Latest Poetry Articles

Apr 22

Upcoming Poetry Events

Open mics, poetry slams, book launches, workshops, festivals and more!

This week’s newsletter features upcoming poetry events happening throughout Australia and online. Whether you’re looking to write, listen, or perform, there’s plenty to discover. Check out our list of open mics, poetry slams, book launches, workshops, festivals and more.

Uplift Poetry ∙ 3 LIKES ∙ 2 RESTACKS

Elizabeth Walton

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Fabuloso

read poetry

Apr 28

Deep Dive Into Renaissance Poetry

Writing Love, Beauty, Nature, and Devotion

Dear read poetry friends,

read poetry ∙ 23 LIKES ∙ 5 RESTACKS

Marina

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Thank you for sharing the article about famous poets 🌷 I will check out their poems 🩷

The poem of the week is beautiful. It really talks about all the problems the global warming causes.

By the way, what is the next theme for May?

read poetry

May 5

Poetry Collections for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Poetic History and Recommendations for AAPI Heritage Month

Dear read poetry friends,

read poetry ∙ 14 LIKES ∙ 2 RESTACKS

92NY Poetry & Literature

May 4

In the Archives: On Poets and Poetry

Allen Ginsberg, Elizabeth Hardwick, Borges, Lionel Trilling, Robert Frost, Claudia Rankine, and more discuss poetry.

April was International Poetry Month! We’ve had some extraordinary poets read at the Y over many decades, but in the interests of deepening our reading of their work, I pulled out some of my favorite discussions of poets and poetry. They are (as is so often the way with poetry) sometimes contradictory, but always beautiful and mind-expanding. I hope you…

92NY Poetry & Literature ∙ 16 LIKES ∙ 1 RESTACKS

Uplift Poetry

Apr 30

Poetry Prompts from SpeakEasy Poetry

Respond to the SpeakEasy 2025 themed poem

Today we’re thrilled to collaborate with SpeakEasy Poetry for our poetry writing prompts!

SpeakEasy Poetry ∙ 4 LIKES ∙ 1 RESTACKS

Ethereal Twilight Poetry

Apr 23

Lunar Longing (Poem) - Voiceover

Collaboration Damien and Ethereal Twilight Poetry

Collaboration between Damien and Ethereal Twilight Poetry on longing for deep connection.

Ethereal Twilight Poetry and Damien ∙ 98 LIKES ∙ 32 RESTACKS

Sunshine

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Apr 23

There is a gentle ache woven through these lines, a sense of reaching across distance and time in hope of meeting soul to soul. The moon and tide imagery beautifully echo the pull between two spirits, both searching and waiting, both creating and longing. This poem feels like a quiet conversation with the universe, asking for connection, and trusting that longing itself is a sacred force. Thank you both for inviting us into this delicate, luminous space.

Jacqueline Billy

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Apr 25

This is such an incredible poem. I felt pulled and pushed and awestruck by the terrible want and desire in this poem for the lovers and for the moon and the wide ocean’s tide,

All pulling me and making me long for the one who is not quite absent, but trying to draw the other to Ìt. This is soooo beautifully written. But I do wish the lovers would get together, either on the sandy shore or in the waiting bed!💕 💗

VERVE Poetry Festival

May 3

The ‘Radiohead of Poetry’ - Shortlisted Poet of the Festival Lisette on miserable poems, NHS years, and why everyone's life is interesting.

There will be a live online reading from poets alongside Victoria Kennefick May 10th.

Tell us about your writing practice.

VERVE Poetry ∙ 3 LIKES ∙ 1 RESTACKS

Poetry Unbound

Apr 19

Music and memory

The where and the when of a memory of music

Dear friends,

Pádraig Ó Tuama ∙ 356 LIKES ∙ 40 RESTACKS

Ioana Badicioiu

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Apr 19

I was in 7th grade, in the early 90s, where teaching was dictation and frontal. We were about to experience something different in Mr. Hanganu's Geography lesson. He entered the classroom with his usual map of the world which he would hang in front of the black board. In his other hand, was holding a cassette player. I do not remember his introduction or the relevance to the topic we were studying, but when he pressed play, John Lennon's Imagine started playing. Many years later, when I became a teacher myself, I finally understood that moment and his desire - or maybe even urge - to give or tell us something important about our role and place in the world. I do not know if he is still alive but I am very grateful that I got to honour his memory today.

Kathryn

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Apr 19

I'm in Siena on this Spring morning, far from home, but also in a place that feels like a sort of home. 30 years ago, after our son died and we didn't know how to go on, we came to this beautiful country, this beautiful city. Shortly after, back in our "normal" home, we found Andrea Bocelli and his extraordinary album Romanza. It was the first music we could bear to listen to after our son's death, and we listened to it over and over.

Last night while sipping a glass of wine, I pulled the album up on my phone and played it on our little portable speaker. When the song "Rapsodia" started, we both stilled, transported, brought to new tears, brought back to that time, brought closer to the grief that will always be in our hearts, and to the love.

"Tu, cosi' lontana, seppure ormai cosi' vicino. E l'anima se ne va verso l'eternita''."

Music is both balm to our wounds and a visceral reminder of them. The other beloved Italian singer-- and also song writer/poet-- who has accompanied me during these years is Gianmaria Testa. I am grateful to them both, and to many other musicians (shoutout especially to Leonard Cohen and Nick Cave).

And I'm grateful to so many poets, including Padraig, and to this Sunday morning community.

Poetry Unbound

Apr 26

A question that’s guided me ...

... for 30 years

Dear friends,

Pádraig Ó Tuama ∙ 414 LIKES ∙ 32 RESTACKS

Deb Bonham

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Apr 26

When I’ve been in a Sydney ocean pool and I get out all tingley with my back to the sun. Watching other water addicts doing their thing! People are alive and informal at the oceans edge! I also like a full moon rise over the horizon.

Dipti Vyas

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Apr 26

When do I feel most alive?

Not in becoming

but in the soft undoing

of the one who becomes

when effort loosens

its grip on meaning

and nothing is being held

not even “I”

not even “alive”

just this

without centre

without second

breathing itself

as what it is

Poetry Unbound

May 3

A recollection of a kind thing said

And the making of a map of memory

Dear friends,

Pádraig Ó Tuama ∙ 281 LIKES ∙ 24 RESTACKS

Anne Pender

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I have been working on a poem for a while now, trying to articulate to myself what had moved me so intensely about a comment made at the end of a 30-year college reunion not so long ago. Your prompt this week suddenly clicked it into place, Pádraig – thank you…

"Seen"

I lower my head,

lessen the distance

between your mouth and my ear

to catch your words in the noisy bar:

“You were the one I really wanted to see tonight.”

It has been a long time since the anticipation of me

has lingered in a man’s thoughts.

No matter if just platonic,

a delicious friction

flickers between us.

And I feel a sudden alive lightness at being seen

again; me, here, worth something to someone,

after years of invisible unexistence,

a future now beckoning

unexpectedly on the horizon.

David Levy

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High school was a disaster,

Not that anything happened there,

Life was too dangerous

To be visible, so I wasn’t.

Until one day, driving a green VW bug

Through my hometown’s “inner city”,

John Henry sat on a corner playing

The blues guitar. Blues harp in hand,

I asked him “May I join you?”

Sitting eyeball to eyeball, smile to smile,

We played those blues. John Henry

Paused, said “this boy’s got a bit of Soul”. Anointed, baptised, that’s what I was.

Poetry Unbound

Apr 12

What rhyme does

(to set the heart abuzz)

Dear friends,

Pádraig Ó Tuama ∙ 347 LIKES ∙ 28 RESTACKS

Tara Kunert

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Apr 12

When we were young my very English father recorded 'Pooh Bear by Daddy' on a old cassette recorder ( you can hear the clunks as he starts and stops it).

One of Pooh's famous 'hums' is about the snow, 'The more it snows, tiddly pom, the more it goes, tiddly pom, the more it goes, tiddly pom, on snowing, and nobody knows, tiddly pom, how cold my toes, tiddly pom, how cold my toes, tiddly pom,are growing'.

Sophisticated, no. But funny and fun and accessible. Recitable on the move with laughter and bouncing and heavy landing (physically and verbally) on the rhymes. An early introduction to the joy of playing with words.

David Levy

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Apr 12

Every morning, coffee in hand, I stand at my living room window and recite a poem by Michael Glaser, "The Living Presence of Trees". It begins: "I have always felt the living presence of trees, the forest that calls to me as deeply as I breathe". Every morning this renews a direct link between trees and breathe. This amazing weaving of life.

Poetry, Art & Life

May 3

Poetry Whore

Erotic Poetry

Vianne Armour ∙ 41 LIKES ∙ 21 RESTACKS

Kim Williams, M.Div.

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19h

Vianne, I don't often comment on your pieces. but this one...heavens this one speaks about the lust for and love of word and verse in such a manner to cause a poet to go mute. Thank you.

small wounds

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not sex anymore - more raw

animal and spirit

not romance either,

but a resonance, interstellar,

divine as a cup of coffee on a Monday morning,

🔥🔥🔥

Loved that

Poetry Outdoors

3:00 AM

If Suddenly You Feel Joy, Don't Hesitate.

Your weekly Mary Oliver poem and prompt.

Welcome to Dream Work: A Year-Long Writing Journey with Mary Oliver

Poetry Outdoors ∙ 31 LIKES ∙ 4 RESTACKS

Richard Kerver

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Hesitancy is the world's claim on our soul

And yet, the next step is a leap forward

Over the rift in free flight

Who knew we had wings?

Gun-Marie Engström

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Don’t hesitate

Enclosed in bubbles of ice

Buds on the branch of my cherry tree

I found on the porch.

Shining with beauty

Icy, cold

Don’t hesitate to turn to the sun

Don’t hesitate the buds opening to bloom.

Don’t hesitate to enjoy your fleeting charms.

Photo: Karen Berson

Poetry Unbound

Apr 5

"Nothing is so beautiful as Spring –"

On the turning of the year

Dear friends,

Pádraig Ó Tuama ∙ 407 LIKES ∙ 32 RESTACKS

Tommy Burke

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Apr 5

It’s always daffodils, and sometimes early buds on branches, and the white blush of hawthorn announcing themselves for the bees. And the wink of wild garlic from the edges.

Sean

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Apr 5

It’s the songs of birds for me. Robins first, though frequently so soon I worry about their being able to take care of themselves in the cold and snow. They are followed by the redwinged blackbirds, then the wrens and cowbirds and too many more to count. Chickadees have wintered here with the local residents, but they begin to sing their two-note ditty stronger now, as do the bright red cardinals. When the birds return, I realize just how quiet winter had become. They are welcome back to their upper midwestern summer homes in Iowa, USA.

Poetry Outdoors

Apr 19

In Every Heart, There is a God of Flowers, Just Waiting to Come Out.

Your weekly Mary Oliver poem and writing prompt.

Welcome to Dream Work: A Year-Long Writing Journey with Mary Oliver

Poetry Outdoors ∙ 46 LIKES ∙ 6 RESTACKS

BJ Martin

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Apr 26

My poem is here: https://substack.com/home/post/p-195457208 Enjoy.

Liz Rubando

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Apr 26

Thank you, Ash! Here is my poem: https://lizrubando.substack.com/p/in-every-heart-lies-a-pit-of-despair

Poetry Outdoors

Apr 14

I Don't Know Who God is Exactly, But I'll Tell You This

Your weekly Mary Oliver poem and writing prompt.

Welcome to Dream Work: A Year-Long Writing Journey with Mary Oliver

Poetry Outdoors ∙ 436 LIKES ∙ 44 RESTACKS

Van Burbach

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Apr 19

Thanks again for a great prompt. This was fun, as I’ve never tried a cento before. Here is my attempt:

The River’s Song

I don’t know who God is exactly.