December 1, 1994 Poem By Gerald Stern I put the pyracantha in a blue vase and spread the coneflower over my kitchen table. I had to make sure they could bear the noise and catch the benefits of my small radio as if they were more than flowers—glass frogs at least, or metal quail, their […]
Coach Class Seats Poem
Coach Class Seats Poem By Charles Harper Webb Each has a foot-square paper napkin stuck to the headrest: a bow to budget travelers’ sensibilities. Too bad each square evokes a paper toilet seat: a 747 full of people shuffling in, then settling down to reek. At least my hair won’t pick up grease from God-knows-whom. […]
The Sudden Tug of the Familiar Poem
The Sudden Tug of the Familiar Poem By Faye George The raised grain of golden oak in sunlight is richer for scars made beautiful with the caress of lemon oil on a soft cloth gathering dust, the patina of use, the comings and goings of hands in touch after touch after touch for which years […]
A Few Words on the Soul Poem
A Few Words on the Soul Poem By Wislawa Szymborska We have a soul at times. No one’s got it non-stop, for keeps. Day after day, year after year may pass without it. Sometimes it will settle for awhile only in childhood’s fears and raptures. Sometimes only in astonishment that we are old. It rarely […]
Famous Poems of the Past Explained Poem
Famous Poems of the Past Explained Poem By Bin Ramke Imagine how much I hope, imagine what a fan I am, how I want to read wisdom, yes, and applaud such confidence. I was about to step when I noticed there was no world there, so I turned quickly searching for foot-sized solidity to enhance […]
Thanksgiving at the Sea Ranch
Thanksgiving at the Sea Ranch Poem By Sandra M. Gilbert Contemplating Metempsychosis You tried coming back as a spider I was too fast for you. As you climbed my ankle, I swept you off, I ground you to powder under my winter boot. Shall I cherish the black widow, I asked, because he is you? […]
The God Who Loves You Poem
The God Who Loves You Poem By Carl Dennis It must be troubling for the god who loves you To ponder how much happier you’d be today Had you been able to glimpse your many futures. It must be painful for him to watch you on Friday evenings Driving home from the office, content with […]