W. S. Merwin, born on this day in 1927 : The Poetry Foundation

Read a biography of American poet W. S. Merwin : The Poetry Foundation

"Thanks" by W. S. Merwin : The Poetry Foundation

American poet W. S. Merwin was born on this day in 1927. Read this poem of his: Thanks by W. S. Merwin : The Poetry Foundation

"Eyes:" by William Matthews / Poem of the Day : The Poetry Foundation

Listen to an audio recording of William Matthews reading the following poem of his:
Eyes: / Poem of the Day : The Poetry Foundation

William Matthews (1942-1997)

Photo by Ted Rosenberg

C.K. Williams: Essential American Poets / Essential American Poets : The Poetry Foundation

C.K. Williams: Essential American Poets / Essential American Poets : The Poetry Foundation

Recordings of poet C. K. Williams, with an introduction to his life and work

"Rhapsody on a Windy Night" by T. S. Eliot : The Poetry Foundation

T(homas) S(tearns) Eliot was born on this day in 1888. Read this poem of his: Rhapsody on a Windy Night by T. S. Eliot : The Poetry Foundation

Also read "Preludes" by T. S. Eliot.

I think each of these poems, "Preludes" and "Rhapsody on a Windy Night," is the cat's meow. Perhaps we should commit both these poems to Memory

T. S. Eliot (1888-1965)

American-born British poet and critic.

Shel Silverstein, born on this day in 1932 : The Poetry Foundation

Read a biography of Shel Silverstein : The Poetry Foundation

Shel Silverstein (1932-1999)

"The Lane" by Edward Thomas : The Poetry Foundation

The Lane by Edward Thomas : The Poetry Foundation

F. Scott Fitzgerald (born 9/24/1896) -- his voice! RARE Shakespeare, Othello's speech (Act...

Biography: Eavan Boland : The Poetry Foundation

Read a biography of this Irish poet, who was born on this day in 1944: Eavan Boland : The Poetry Foundation

Eavan Boland

"The Beautiful Changes" by Richard Wilbur : The Poetry Foundation

Read the poem The Beautiful Changes by Richard Wilbur : The Poetry Foundation

Autumn arrived today at 4:21 a.m. Eastern time.

"The Beautiful Changes" by Richard Wilbur is a poem about nature in autumn.

Richard Wilbur

American poet and translator;

poet laureate (1987-88)

Quotation: Emily Dickinson on writing

I know nothing in the world

that has as much power as a word.

Sometimes I write one, and I

look at it, until it begins to shine.

Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

American poet

"Rest in Peace, C.K. Williams (1936–2015)" : Harriet Staff : Harriet the Blog : The Poetry Foundation

Rest in Peace, C.K. Williams (1936–2015) : Harriet Staff : Harriet the Blog : The Poetry Foundation
An obituary on the late American poet C. K. Williams

"Ovation" by Michael McFee : American Life in Poetry

Ovation by Michael McFee : American Life in Poetry

A quotation from Voltaire on life

A quotation from Voltaire:

"Life is a shipwreck,

but we must not forget to

sing in the lifeboats."

Voltaire (1694-1778)
French writer

"Believe This" by Richard Levine : The Poetry Foundation

Read the poem Believe This by Richard Levine : The Poetry Foundation

"This Is Just To Say" by William Carlos Williams : The Poetry Foundation

American poet and physician William Carlos Williams was born on this day in 1883. Read this poem of his, a poem that is good for children: This Is Just To Say by William Carlos Williams : The Poetry Foundation

William Carlos Williams (1883-1963)

What we’ve gotten wrong about this Robert Frost classic : NewsHour Poetry Series : Video : The Poetry Foundation

David Orr says "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost is widely misinterpreted. What we’ve gotten wrong about this Robert Frost classic : NewsHour Poetry Series : Video : The Poetry Foundation

Robert Frost (1874-1963)

American poet

"There Have Come Soft Rains" by John Philip Johnson

In kindergarten during the Cold War,

mid-day late bells jolted us,

sending us single file into the hallway,

where we sat, pressing our heads

between our knees, waiting.

So begins John Philip Johnson's poem "There Have Come Soft Rains." To read this poem in its entirety on the Poetry Foundation's website, click here.

Read the poem "There Will Come Soft Rains" written by Sara Teasdale during wartime.

Seven Haiku by Winfield Townley Scott / March 1969 : Poetry Magazine

Read seven haiku by Winfield Townley Scott on pages 376-377 of the March 1969 issue of Poetry Magazine. The titles of those seven haiku are "Multiple Venus," "Once in Mexico," "Weather-Wise," "The Beautiful Girl," "Time," "Late" and "Love."
:

Chrysanthemum: An Anthology

Poetry

"The Double Image" by Anne Sexton / Poem of the Day : The Poetry Foundation

Listen to a recording of American poet Anne Sexton reading her poem "The Double Image":
The Double Image / Poem of the Day : The Poetry Foundation

Anne Sexton

(Source of photo: The Poetry Foundation)

"Invitation to Ground Zero" by William Jay Smith : The Poetry Foundation

Read this poem in which its author, American poet William Jay Smith, remembers September 11th, 2001: Invitation to Ground Zero by William Jay Smith : The Poetry Foundation

Chrysanthemum: An Anthology

Poetry

Mary Oliver, born on this day in 1935 : The Poetry Foundation

Read a biography of American port Mary Oliver : The Poetry Foundation

H. D., born Hilda Doolittle on 9/10/1886 : The Poetry Foundation

Read a biography of
H. D. : The Poetry Foundation

Advice to a friend: a quotation from Ralph Waldo Emerson

A quotation from Ralph Waldo Emerson:

O friend,
never strike sail to a fear!
Come into port greatly,
or sail with God the seas!

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Biography of and poem by Adelaide Crapsey : The Poetry Foundation

Read a biography of this American poet, who was born on this day in 1878: Adelaide Crapsey : The Poetry Foundation


THE WARNING
A cinquain by Adelaide Crapsey

Just now,
Out of the strange
Still dusk . . . as strange, as still . . .
A white moth flew. Why am I grown
So cold?


Source: Verse (1915) by Adelaide Crapsey

Adelaide Crapsey (1878-1914)

"Everyone Sang" by Siegfried Sassoon : The Poetry Foundation

Everyone Sang by Siegfried Sassoon : The Poetry Foundation

"Embedding the Cancer Port" by Robert King : The Poetry Foundation

"Embedding the Cancer Port" by Robert King
You can read this poem at http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/250908

"Van Gogh's Prayer" by János Pilinszky : Poetry Magazine

Read the poem Van Gogh's Prayer by János Pilinszky : Poetry Magazine

This poem about Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh 

was reprinted in the September 2009 issue of Reader's Digest.

Janos Pilinszky (1921-1981)

"Eating Poetry" by Mark Strand / Poem of the Day : The Poetry Foundation

Listen to a recording of a woman reading this poem by Mark Strand: Eating Poetry / Poem of the Day : The Poetry Foundation

Mark Strand (1934-2014)

Quotation: "It was only a sunny smile" by F. Scott Fitzgerald

A quotation from Tender Is the Night (1934) by F. Scott Fitzgerald:

     It was only a sunny smile,
     and little it cost in the giving,
     but like morning light
     it scattered the night
     and made the day worth living.

"The Two Pots" by William Ellery Leonard

THE TWO POTS
A fable adapted by William Ellery Leonard
from "The Two Pots" by Aesop

Two Pots adown the river pass.
One is earthen, one is brass.
The Earthen to the Other saith:
"Don't come nigh me -- you'll be my death,
For if you bump, you'll thump and shiver
All my person in the river,
And that would be a sorry end."

An equal makes the only friend.


Source: Aesop and Hyssop (1912) by William Ellery Leonard

"Little Boy Blue" by Eugene Field (1850-1895)

For decades, Eugene Field's poem "Little Boy Blue" has made some people wonder and others weep. Sentimental, yes; but something is being said in that poem. To read an article about and the text of the poem, click on the following link: "Little Boy Blue" (poem)

Eugene Field

(born on this day in 1850)

"September" by Mother Goose and Sara Coleridge

SEPTEMBER

Clear September brings blue skies,
Goldenrod, and apple pies.
     -- Mother Goose

Warm September brings the fruit,
Sportsmen then begin to shoot.
     -- Sara Coleridge

The Final Say

Quotations I have paired up for comparison