The Daily Poem

Edna St Vincent Millay's "Sonnet 3"

27 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Edna St. Vincent Millay (February 22, 1892 – October 19, 1950) was an American lyrical poet and playwright. Encouraged to read the classics at h...

William Carlos Williams' "the farmer in deep thought"

27 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

William Carlos Williams (September 17, 1883 – March 4, 1963) was a Puerto Rican-American[1] poet, writer, and physician closely associated with m...

Terrence Hayes' "We Should Make a Documentary about Spades"

22 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Terrance Hayes (born November 18, 1971) is an American poet and educator who has published seven poetry collections. His 2010 collection, Lighthead,...

Tracy K. Smith's "The Good Life"

21 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Tracy K. Smith (born April 16, 1972) is an American poet and educator. She served as the 22nd Poet Laureate of the United States from 2017 to 201...

Robert Browning's "Home Thoughts from Abroad"

20 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Robert Browning (7 May 1812 – 12 December 1889) was an English poet and playwright whose dramatic monologues put him among the foremost Victoria...

Robert Hass' "Meditation at Lagunitas"

19 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Robert L. Hass (born March 1, 1941) is an American poet. He served as Poet Laureate of the United States from 1995 to 1997.[1] He won the 2007 Na...

Grace Schulman's "Because"

16 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Grace Schulman (born Grace Jan Waldman, 1935, New York City) is an American poet. She received the 2016 Frost Medal for Distinguished Lifetime Ach...

Charlotte Mew's "I So Liked Spring"

15 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Charlotte Mary Mew (15 November 1869 – 24 March 1928) was an English poet whose work spans the eras of Victorian poetry and Modernism. - Bio via...

Laurie Lee's "April Rise"

14 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Laurence Edward Alan "Laurie" Lee, MBE (26 June 1914 – 13 May 1997) was an English poet, novelist and screenwriter, who was brought up in the...

Rhina Espaillat's "Things That Go"

13 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Rhina Polonia Espaillat (born January 20, 1932, La vega, Dominican Republic)[1] is a bilingual Dominican-American poet and translator who is aff...

A.E. Housman's "Smooth Between Sea and Land"

12 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Alfred Edward Housman (/ˈhaʊsmən/; 26 March 1859 – 30 April 1936), usually known as A. E. Housman, was an English classical scholar and poet....

Rosalie Grayer's "Altar Smoke"

05 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today's poem is an Easter-themed poem from Rosalie Grayer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If ...

From "The Dream of the Rood"

02 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Dream of the Rood is one of the Christian poems in the corpus of Old English literature and an example of the genre of dream poetry. Like mo...

The World's Greatest Poem

01 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Let's kick off April with the world's greatest poems. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd...

A.E. Housman's "A Lent Lilly"

31 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Alfred Edward Housman (/ˈhaʊsmən/; 26 March 1859 – 30 April 1936), usually known as A. E. Housman, was an English classical scholar and poet....

G.K. Chesterton's "The Donkey"

30 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Gilbert Keith Chesterton KC*SG (29 May 1874 – 14 June 1936) was an English writer,[2] philosopher, lay theologian, and literary and art critic....

Amy Lowell's "Opal"

29 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Amy Lawrence Lowell (February 9, 1874 – May 12, 1925) was an American poet of the imagist school, which was promoting a return to classical val...

Robert Southey's "The Cataract of Ledore"

26 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Robert Southey (/ˈsaʊði/ or /ˈsʌði/;[a] 12 August 1774 – 21 March 1843) was an English poet of the Romantic school, and Poet laureate ...

e.e. cummings' "in just"

25 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Edward Estlin Cummings (October 14, 1894 – September 3, 1962), often styled as e e cummings, as he is attributed in many of his published works...

Charlotte Mew's "In the Fields"

24 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Charlotte Mary Mew (15 November 1869 – 24 March 1928) was an English poet whose work spans the eras of Victorian poetry and Modernism. - Bio via...

William Morris' "Spring's Bedfellow"

23 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

William Morris (24 March 1834 – 3 October 1896) was a British textile designer, poet, novelist, translator and socialist activist associated with ...

R.S. Thomas' "The Spring Equinox"

23 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ronald Stuart Thomas (29 March 1913 – 25 September 2000), published as R. S. Thomas, was a Welsh poet and Anglican priest who was noted for hi...

William Wordsworth's "Written in March"

18 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

William Wordsworth (7 April 1770 – 23 April 1850) was an English Romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romanti...

2 by Rhina Espaillat

17 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode features two poems by the great contemporary poet, Rhina Espaillat, both of which were recently published in Plough quarterly. Hosted...

Brutus' speech from Julius Caesar

16 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In honor of the Ideas of March (yesterday), today's poem is Brutus' speech from act III, scene II of Julius Caesar, Shakespeare's wonderful play. Hos...

William Vaughn Moody's "A Gray Day"

15 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

William Vaughn Moody (July 8, 1869 – October 17, 1910) was an American dramatist and poet. Moody was author of The Great Divide, first present...

John Donne's "The Good 'Morrow"

11 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

John Donne (/dʌn/ DUN; 22 January 1572[1] – 31 March 1631) was an English poet, scholar, soldier and secretary born into a recusant family, wh...

Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "A Musical Instrument"

10 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Elizabeth Barrett Browning (née Moulton-Barrett; /ˈbraʊnɪŋ/; 6 March 1806 – 29 June 1861) was an English poet of the Victorian era, popular...

Wendell Berry's Sabbath Poem III (1994)

09 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Wendell Erdman Berry (born August 5, 1934) is an American novelist, poet, essayist, environmental activist, cultural critic, and farmer.[1] He is ...

Maya Angelou's "Phenomenal Woman"

08 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Maya Angelou (/ˈændʒəloʊ/ (listen) ANN-jəl-oh;[1][2] born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928 – May 28, 2014) was an American poet, ...

Anne Spencer's "For Jim, Easter Eve"

05 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Anne Bethel Spencer (born Bannister; February 6, 1882 – July 27, 1975) was an American poet, teacher, civil rights activist, librarian, and garden...

H.D.'s "Sheltered Garden"

04 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hilda Doolittle (September 10, 1886 – September 27, 1961) was an American poet, novelist, and memoirist, associated with the early 20th-century av...

Howard Nemerov's "Watching Football on TV"

02 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Howard Nemerov (February 29, 1920 – July 5, 1991) was an American poet. He was twice Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress...

Happy 100th Birthday to Richard Wilbur

01 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, David shares three poems by the great Richard Wilbur, who was born 100 years ago today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo...

Henry Longfellow's "A Psalm of Life"

26 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (February 27, 1807 – March 24, 1882) was an American poet and educator whose works include "Paul Revere's Ride", The So...

James Russell Lowell's "The Sirens"

25 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

James Russell Lowell (/ˈloʊəl/; February 22, 1819 – August 12, 1891) was an American Romantic poet, critic, editor, and diplomat. He is associ...

Edna St. Vincent Millay's "The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver"

24 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Bio via Britannica.com:Edna St. Vincent Millay, (born February 22, 1892, Rockland, Maine, U.S.—died October 19, 1950, Austerlitz, New York), Ameri...

Philip Larkin's "First Sight"

23 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today's poem is for those snowed in and ready for spring. Bio via Wikipedia: Philip Arthur Larkin CH CBE FRSL (9 August 1922 – 2 December 1985) ...

W.H. Auden's "Ode to the Medieval Poets"

22 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Yesterday was W.H. Auden's birthday, so here's one of his great ones. Bio via Wikipedia:Wystan Hugh Auden (/ˈwɪstən ˈhjuː ˈɔːdən/; 21 Febr...

Nancy Willard's "The Snow Arrives after Long Silence"

18 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A poem dedicated to this long, cold winter. Nancy Willard (June 26, 1936 – February 19, 2017)[1] was an American writer: novelist, poet, author ...

James Matthew Wilson's "A Common Tongue"

17 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Wilson is a poet and critic of contemporary poetry, whose work appears regularly in such magazines and journals as First Things,  The Wall Street J...

Kate Baer's "Motherload"

16 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kate Baer is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and poet based on the East Coast. She has been featured in publications such as Harper’s Bazaar,...

Maurice Manning's "Railsplitter"

15 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In recognition of President's Day, today's poem is in the posthumous voice of Abraham Lincoln, as imagined by Kentucky poet Maurice Manning. Kentucky ...

Joshua Alan Sturgill's "Feast of Books"

12 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Joshua Alan Sturgill is the author of As Far As I Can Tell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If ...

E.E. Cummings' "Somewhere I Have Never Traveled Gladly Beyond"

11 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

E.E. Cummings, in full Edward Estlin Cummings, (born October 14, 1894, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.—died September 3, 1962, North Conway, New H...

Edward Thomas' "Celandine"

10 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Edward Thomas, in full Philip Edward Thomas, (born March 3, 1878, Lambeth, London, Eng.—died April 9, 1917, Arras, France), English writer who tu...

Langston Hughes' "The Negro Speaks of Rivers"

09 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Langston Hughes, in full James Mercer Langston Hughes, (born February 1, 1902?, Joplin, Missouri, U.S.—died May 22, 1967, New York, New York), A...

Elizabeth Bishop's "Roosters"

08 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Elizabeth Bishop, (born Feb. 8, 1911, Worcester, Mass., U.S.—died Oct. 6, 1979, Boston, Mass.), American poet known for her polished, witty, descr...

Luci Shaw's "Advent Visitation"

22 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're sharing Luci Shaw's advent and Christmas-themed poems with you. Up next: "Advent Visitation. "Biography from LuciShaw.comLuci Shaw was...

Luci Shaw's "Some Christmas Stars"

21 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're sharing Luci Shaw's Christmas-themed poems with you. Up first, a poem that suits this week's astronomical happenings! Hosted on Acast...

Wendell Berry's "Remembering That It Happened Once"

19 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Wendell Berry, in full Wendell Erdman Berry, (born August 5, 1934, Port Royal, Kentucky, U.S.), American author whose nature poetry, novels of Ame...

W.H. Davies' "Winter's Beauty"

17 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

William Henry Davies, (born July 3, 1871, Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales—died Sept. 26, 1940, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, Eng.), English poet who...

Rowan William's "Advent Calendar"

16 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Rowan Williams, in full Rowan Douglas Williams, Baron Williams of Oystermouth in the City and County of Swansea, (born June 14, 1950, Swansea, Wales...

Robert Frost's "An Old Man's Winter Night"

15 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Robert Frost, in full Robert Lee Frost, (born March 26, 1874, San Francisco, California, U.S.—died January 29, 1963, Boston, Massachusetts), Ameri...

Happy Birthday, Jim Harrison!

15 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jim Harrison, byname of James Thomas Harrison, (born December 11, 1937, Grayling, Michigan, U.S.—died March 26, 2016, Patagonia, Arizona), Americ...

Emily Dickinson's Birthday

10 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today (December 10th) is Emily Dickinson's birthday so in honor of the great poet, here's a sampling of some of her work. Hosted on Acast. See acast....

John Milton's "On His Deceased Wife"

09 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

John Milton, (born December 9, 1608, London, England—died November 8?, 1674, London?), English poet, pamphleteer, and historian, considered the mos...

Horace's Ode I.11

08 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Horace, Latin in full Quintus Horatius Flaccus, (born December 65 BC, Venusia, Italy—died Nov. 27, 8 BC, Rome), outstanding Latin lyric poet a...

Jane Kenyon's "Mosaic of the Nativity, Serbia, Winter 1993"

07 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Biography via Enclopedia.com: Poet Jane Kenyon was noted for creating verse that probes the inner psyche, particularly demons of depression such as th...

Madeleine L'Engle's "The Winter Is Cold, Is Cold"

04 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Madeleine L’Engle, original name in full Madeleine L’Engle Camp, married name Madeleine Franklin, (born November 29, 1918, New York, New York,...

Richard Wilbur's "A Black Birch in Winter"

03 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Richard Wilbur was born March 1, 1921, New York, New York, U.S. and died October 14, 2017, Belmont, Massachusetts), American poet associated with the...

Ted Kooser's "December 2"

02 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Thirteenth United States Poet Laureate (2004–2006) Ted Kooser is a retired life insurance executive who lives on acreage near the village of Garland...

Robert Frost's "Christmas Trees"

01 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Robert Frost, born March 26, 1874, San Francisco, California, U.S.—died January 29, 1963, Boston, Massachusetts), American poet who was much admir...

Ted Kooser's "A Glint"

04 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today's poem is by Ted Kooser , byname of Theodore Kooser, (born April 25, 1939, Ames, Iowa, U.S.), American poet, whose verse was noted for its te...

William Wordsworth's "London, 1802"

29 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today's poem is by "William Wordsworth, (born April 7, 1770, Cockermouth, Cumberland, England—died April 23, 1850, Rydal Mount, Westmorland), Engl...

Carl Sandberg's "The Long Shadow of Lincoln - A Litany"

27 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today's poem is by Carl Sandburg, (born Jan. 6, 1878, Galesburg, Ill., U.S.—died July 22, 1967, Flat Rock, N.C.), American poet, historian, novelis...

Song of Songs: Chapter 8

26 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today's poem comes from one of the more famous passages of religious writing -- Song of Songs, chapter 8. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for ...

Wendell Berry's "1997"

13 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Wendell Berry, in full Wendell Erdman Berry, (born August 5, 1934, Port Royal, Kentucky, U.S.), American author whose nature poetry, novels of Ame...

2 Poems for Autumn from Sally Thomas

09 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On today's show: two sonnets from Sally Thomas for autumn. You can read them here: https://www.plough.com/en/topics/culture/poetry/two-sonnets-sally-t...

Louise Glück: Winner of the 2020 Nobel Prize in Literature

08 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Louise Glück, in full Louise Elisabeth Glück, (born April 22, 1943, New York, New York, U.S.), American poet whose willingness to confront the hor...

Rhina Espaillat's "Gardening"

07 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Rhina P. Espaillat has published ten full-length books and three chapbooks, comprising poetry, essays, and short stories, in both English and her nat...

Elizabeth Bishop's "A Miracle for Breakfast"

06 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Elizabeth Bishop, (born Feb. 8, 1911, Worcester, Mass., U.S.—died Oct. 6, 1979, Boston, Mass.), American poet known for her polished, witty, descr...

Wallace Stevens' "Anecdote of a Jar"

05 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Wallace Stevens, (born Oct. 2, 1879, Reading, Pa., U.S.—died Aug. 2, 1955, Hartford, Conn.), American poet whose work explores the interaction of ...

Alice Cary's "Autumn"

02 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Alice Cary (b. April 26, 1820, Mount Healthy, near Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.—d. February 12, 1871, New York, New York) and Phoebe Cary (b. September 4,...

Sir Walter Raleigh's "The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd"

01 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sir Walter Raleigh, Raleigh also spelled Ralegh, (born 1554?, Hayes Barton, near Budleigh Salterton, Devon, England—died October 29, 1618, Londo...

Christopher Marlowe's "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love"

30 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Christopher Marlowe, (baptized Feb. 26, 1564, Canterbury, Kent, Eng.—died May 30, 1593, Deptford, near London), Elizabethan poet and Shakespeare...

Gwendolyn Brooks' "A Sunset of the City"

28 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Gwendolyn Brooks, in full Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks, (born June 7, 1917, Topeka, Kan., U.S.—died Dec. 3, 2000, Chicago, Ill.), American poet whos...

Langston Hughes’ “Mother to Son”

23 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Langston Hughes, in full James Mercer Langston Hughes, (born February 1, 1902?, Joplin, Missouri, U.S.—died May 22, 1967, New York, New York), A...

Donald Hall's "The Long Ranger"

21 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Donald Hall, in full Donald Andrew Hall, Jr., (born September 20, 1928, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.—died June 23, 2018, Wilmot, New Hampshire), Am...

T.S. Eliot's "La Figlia che Piange"

18 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

T.S. Eliot, in full Thomas Stearns Eliot, (born September 26, 1888, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.—died January 4, 1965, London, England), American-En...

Yvor Winters' "At the San Francisco Airport"

16 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Yvor Winters, (born Oct. 17, 1900, Chicago, Ill., U.S.—died Jan. 25, 1968, Palo Alto, Calif.), was an American poet, critic, and teacher who held ...

Claude McKay's "Subway Winds"

15 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Claude McKay, (born September 15, 1889, Nairne Castle, Jamaica, British West Indies—died May 22, 1948, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.), Jamaican-born po...

Christina Rossetti's "An Apple Gathering"

14 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Christina Rossetti, in full Christina Georgina Rossetti,  pseudonym Ellen Alleyne, (born Dec. 5, 1830, London, Eng.—died Dec. 29, 1894, London)...

Billy Collins' "The Names"

11 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today's poem is Billy Collins' "The Names"--a poem written in honor of those who tragically lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Hosted on Acast. ...

Mary Oliver's "Every Morning"

10 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Mary Oliver was born on September 10, 1935, in Maple Heights, Ohio. Her honors include an American Academy of Arts & Letters Award, a Lannan Liter...

Elinor Wylie's "Wild Peaches"

09 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Elinor Wylie, née Elinor Morton Hoyt, (born Sept. 7, 1885, Somerville, N.J., U.S.—died Dec. 16, 1928, New York, N.Y.), American poet and noveli...

Luci Shaw's "Time Travel"

04 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Luci Shaw was born in 1928 in London, England, and has lived in Canada, Australia and the U.S.A. A 1953 high honors graduate of Wheaton College in Ill...

H.D.'s "Helen"

03 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hilda Doolittle, byname H.D., (born September 10, 1886, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S.—died September 27, 1961, Zürich, Switzerland), American po...

Eugene Field's "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod"

02 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Eugene Field, (born September 2, 1850, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.—died November 4, 1895, Chicago, Illinois), American poet and journalist, best kno...

Hayden Carruth's "Abandoned Ranch, Big Bend"

31 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hayden Carruth was born Aug. 3, 1921 in Waterbury, Conn., U.S. and died Sept. 29, 2008, Munnsville, N.Y. He was American poet and literary critic best...

Mary Jo Salter's "Home Movies: A Sort of Ode"

28 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Mary Jo Salter is the author of eight books of poetry, most recently The Surveyors (2017). She is also a lyricist whose song cycle “Rooms of Ligh...

Marilyn Chin's "Turtle Soup"

27 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today's poem is Marilyn Chin's "Turtle Soup." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to...

Louise Bogan's "The Alchemist"

26 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today's poem is Louise Bogan's "The Alchemist." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like t...

Louise Bogan's "The Alchemist"

26 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today's poem is Louise Bogan's "The Alchemist." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like t...

Robert Herrick's "The Argument of his Book"

24 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today's poem is Robert Herrick's "The Argument of his Book." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If...

Donald Justice's "The Evening of the Mind"

20 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today's poem is Donald Justice's "The Evening of the Mind." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If ...

Percy Shelley's "Mont Blanc"

19 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today's poem is Percy Shelley's "Mont Blanc." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to...

Billy Collins' "Aristotle"

18 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today's poem is Billy Collins' "Aristotle." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to d...

Ted Hughes' "The Thought Fox"

17 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today's poem is Ted Hughes' "The Thought Fox." Happy birthday to Ted Hughes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a p...

Lewis Carroll's "A Pig-Tale"

14 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today's poem is Lewis Carroll's "A Pig-Tale." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to ...