This month I drafted one of those poems that just insists on obsessive explorations before resting. A small poem—yet so far I have about 20 pages of drafts/ line versions/ metrical questions. In the process, a few drafts came together nicely, but then I’d be back at it.

I know a fae trap when I see one

Does anyone ever spontaneously sing to their poems? Don’t be so awkward! No, don’t be awkward now— Please! Bonus points if you’ve directed such a ditty at your own person ;)! P.S.— YES, I was WRITing IN triple MEter.

Lisel Mueller #poetry

#poetry Lisel Mueller in The New Yorker

“Indian Love Song,” Sarojini Naidu. A perfect way to orient the ear toward anapests—& this close could double as a hymn! “For Love shall cancel the ancient wrong and conquer the ancient rage, Redeem with his tears the memoried sorrow that sullied a bygone age.” open.substack.com/pub/anniefin...

yalereview.org/article/mess... #poetry

One thing I wouldn’t have realized about Plath w/o picking up her collected: She was obsessed with slant consonantal end-rhymes. Might this correlate to her first love being visual art? Versus, say, singing (assonantal rhyme being so woven to the ear)?

#poetry #AnnaKrugovoySilver

Today’s Featured Poem: “Daughter” by ‪@danushalameris.bsky.social, from Blade by Blade, published by @coppercanyonpress.bsky.social. Read here: poems.com/poem/daughter/

I decided to explore #AnyaKrugovoySilver via the bookends—her first and her posthumous last volumes. From the first:

soundcloud.com/the-yale-rev... #poetry #EmilyHoffman

Hafiz

Often in the free verse, I will start out with accentual lines. As the lengths start to alter more, often the natural phrasing within the sentences across the lines either maintains or chronically reverts to the previously set beat count—one subtle way that free is rarely free.

Feeling grateful (also floored) to turn to a page in Poetry Magazine & find this poem I wrote, with all admiration, after Mary Oliver's "When Death Comes." Thank you, Adrian, Lindsay, Holly, et al.

My unread #poetry stash was already substantial and is growing embarrassingly fast (with Merwin, Kooser, more James Richardson, Anya Krugovoy Silver, Li-Young Lee, and some translations en route 😳) while I slowly rotate through a few thick tomes… and relish the elegance of #RichardWilbur again.

Matthew Wickman’s interview w the husband of the late Anya Krugovoy Silver is astounding. I must sheepishly admit that every time I read one of her poems I think, “I really need to buy one of her books,” and yet, I haven’t. That will change this year! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f...

#RichardWilbur has many fine translations.

Jim Harrison, "Another Country"

One of the problems with writing ecological poems or poems with nature metaphors when you aren’t a biologist is that things you’ve been misinformed about sometimes sneak into the core of a poem you’ve slaved over, ruining it. Happened to my latest effort--but I'm glad I caught it.

A poem from #WisławaSzymborska about sea cucumbers (and a lot more): entropypost.wordpress.com/2009/02/22/a... The translation used is from the collected that came out when she won the Nobel Prize, translated by Stanisław Barańczak and Clare Cavanaugh.

Poets!! I'm excited to announce that i am the guest editor for the Spring 2026 issue of @pshares.bsky.social. It is an honor and a joy! If you want to add to the vibrant, healing rhythmical chorus I'm creating, send them along!y I'd love this issue to sing, especially with a diversity of meters.

A phenomenal human and a self-giving leader in a time when that feels in short supply. Enter your rest.

From Michael Schmidt's editorial, taken from PN Review 282, our March - April 2025 issue. Read the full editorial on our Substack: carcanet.substack.com/p/pn-review-...

The new Congress wants to gut Medicaid to make room for tax breaks for billionaires. We won’t let that happen. Take action now! go.caringacross.org/a/no-cuts-me...

There is nothing like a black bear slapping his palm on each of two windows not eight feet from you and seemingly waving hi to create a little midnight excitement! I waited to approach the window, only to see a red fox (yay! I feared they were gone) and a skunk in quick succession.

The last two springs nature visited me in the form of fox kits. I routinely got to spy their antics in the driveway at night—no small gift when you are housebound w illness! Alas, a dark, nocturnal mystery-animal has kicked the foxes out of their den (beneath a neighboring shed).

#RichardWilbur #poetry

#poetry #JoyHarjo Skeleton of Winter Her book *She Had Some Horses* was key in my developing a love for poetry during college. It’s taken me all these years to revisit w her New & Selected. But, yes, her voice is still special to me. (Not everyone’s holds up.) youtu.be/jtkilmCd6xU?...

What a fun poem from #JamesRichardson! #poetry

This!!!!

Today’s poetry foundation offering:

www.newyorker.com/magazine/201... #poetry #JamesRichardson

Very worth clicking on!

George Herbert with a love poem that would suit St. V himself.

I found this poem by @chrispygal.bsky.social moving! mobiusmagazine.com/poetry/whati...

#RSThomas having an upbeat #poetry day.

#RSThomas #poetry

Much is made of taking risks while experimenting with the experimental in poetry. And I’ve happily  done so. But to risk experimenting with the simple, the traditional, or the borderline (and hopefully not quite) sentimental is where I feel “risk” most in today’s climate.

I’m continuing to routinely open up R.S. Thomas. Here are a couple from the last forty pages I read. #RSThomas #poetry

And neither self Quite stuffs your skin: The almost-am Or the might-have-been. —Edmund Jorgensen

Both the poems featured by Rattle and The Slowdown today were special: www.slowdownshow.org/episode/2025...

I am honored to appear in the Fall 2024 issue of Pensive (which experienced a publication delay). Pleasingly, my poem was immediately followed by a poem about Hildegard von Bingen. Also, a few poets who have been on my bookshelf for some time appear as co-contributors! Link & samples in comments.

youtu.be/7cnaIVKiu0g?... A soothing Christmas song :)

Shape note singing tends to give me the shivers, but listening to too much of it can feel like a mouthful of raw onion. This performance appeals for its balance between polish and the primitive. And it's a great Advent poem! youtu.be/8iuqOOL49Mo?...

these poems are astounding! read them… hear them read aloud… and know you are experiencing such a unique voice that puts great care into every line!🌸 congrats to @deborahjshore.bsky.social on these published pieces!