"Ode to Stephen Dowling Bots, Dec'd." by Mark Twain : The Poetry Foundation

Read Ode to Stephen Dowling Bots, Dec'd. by Mark Twain : The Poetry Foundation

American writer Mark Twain was born Samuel Langhorne Clemens on this day in 1835.

Mark Twain (1835-1910)

Photo Credit: Library of Congress,

Washington, D.C.

"Preparing our Hearts During Advent" | Blog | American Bible Society News

Read the blog post Preparing our Hearts During Advent | Blog | American Bible Society News
Today is the first Sunday of Advent.

"The Gift Outright" by Robert Frost : The Poetry Foundation

Read this poem: The Gift Outright by Robert Frost : The Poetry Foundation

Robert Frost (1874-1963)

American poet

"We Gather Together": Hymn (with lyrics) for Thanksgiving Day

"Family Reunion" by Maxine W. Kumin : The Poetry Foundation

Read this poem: Family Reunion by Maxine W. Kumin : The Poetry Foundation

Maxine W. Kumin

(Source of photo: The Poetry Foundation)

"A Thanksgiving to God, for his House" by Robert Herrick : The Poetry Foundation

Read A Thanksgiving to God, for his House by Robert Herrick : The Poetry Foundation

"Traveling with Guitar" by Debra Marquart : The Poetry Foundation

Read this road poem from an American writer and singer who knows the musician's life: Traveling with Guitar by Debra Marquart : The Poetry Foundation

"Thanksgiving for Two" by Marjorie Saiser : The Poetry Foundation

Read this poem: Thanksgiving for Two by Marjorie Saiser : The Poetry Foundation

"Sunday Morning" (1915) by Wallace Stevens : Poem Guide : Learning Lab : The Poetry Foundation

A legendary poem turns 100: Sunday Morning by Wallace Stevens : Poem Guide : Learning Lab : The Poetry Foundation

From "The Months" by Mother Goose

From THE MONTHS
by Mother Goose

Dull November brings the blast,
Makes the leaves go whirling fast.

Margaret Atwood (born on this day in 1939) : The Poetry Foundation

Read a biography of Canadian writer Margaret Atwood : The Poetry Foundation

"The Great Commandment" by Jesus Christ : The King James Bible

THE GREAT COMMANDMENT

by Jesus Christ

(Mark 12:29-31, King James Version)

     The first of all the commandments is,

     Hear, O Israel;

     The Lord our God is one Lord:

     And thou shalt love the Lord thy God

     With all thy heart, and with all thy soul,

     And with all thy mind, and with all thy strength:

this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this,

     Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

There is none other commandment greater than these.

"Heaven's Gate" by Robert Morgan : The Poetry Foundation

Read the poem Heaven's Gate by Robert Morgan : The Poetry Foundation

This poem by Robert Morgan reminds me of my own mother, Evelyn M. Gilmer, a devout Christian who turned 92 on November 10 of this year and who uses a walker.

Robert Morgan : The Poetry Foundation

"The Final Say: Jane Austen" by Monty Gilmer

THE FINAL SAY: JANE AUSTEN
by Monty Gilmer

The novels of Jane Austen
Are the ones to get lost in.
                --Edmund Clerihew Bentley

I wonder if Petula Clark
Has ever read Mansfield Park.
                                   --Monty Gilmer


(English songstress Petula Clark was born on this day in 1932.)

Jane Austen (1775-1817)

Portrait, ca. 1810

Marianne Moore (born on this day in 1887) : The Poetry Foundation

Read a biography of American poet Marianne Moore : The Poetry Foundation

"At the Justice Department November 15,1969" by Denise Levertov : The Poetry Foundation

Read At the Justice Department November 15, 1969 by Denise Levertov : The Poetry Foundation
Also listen to Denise Levertov reading this poem of hers.

Denise Levertov (1923-1997)

(Photo by Chris Felver)

"I Dream'd in a Dream" by Walt Whitman

I DREAM'D IN A DREAM
by Walt Whitman

I dream'd in a dream I saw a city invincible to the attacks of the whole of the rest of the earth,
I dream'd that was the new city of Friends,
Nothing was greater there than the quality of robust love, it led the rest,
It was seen every hour in the actions of the men of that city,
And in all their looks and words.


Source: Leaves of Grass (1892) by Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman (1819-1892)

Robert Louis Stevenson (born on this day in 1850) : The Poetry Foundation

Read a biography of Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson : The Poetry Foundation

"Windy Nights" by Robert Louis Stevenson : The Poetry Foundation

Read Windy Nights by Robert Louis Stevenson : The Poetry Foundation

Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson was born on this day in 1850> To learn more about him, go to the RLS Website: http://www.robert-louis-stevenson.org

"November Night" by Adelaide Crapsey : The Poetry Foundation

Read this five-line poem, a cinquain: November Night by Adelaide Crapsey : The Poetry Foundation

Adelaide Crapsey (1878-1914)

American poet

A Bible reading for Veterans Day : The King James Bible

Read Isaiah 2:1-5 (King James Version): http://www.bartleby.com/108/23/2.html#1-5

"Triolet on a Line Apocryphally Attributed to Martin Luther" by A. E Stallings : Poetry Magazine

Read this poem: Triolet on a Line Apocryphally Attributed to Martin Luther by A. E. Stallings : Poetry Magazine

German Reformation leader Martin Luther was born on this day in 1483.

A. E. Stallings

Anne Sexton: Essential American Poets / Essential American Poets : The Poetry Foundation

Archival recordings of poet Anne Sexton (who was born on this day in 1928), with an introduction to her life and work: Anne Sexton: Essential American Poets / Essential American Poets : The Poetry Foundation

Anne Sexton (1928-1974)

American poet

(Source of photo: The Poetry Foundation)

"Her Kind" by Anne Sexton (1928-1974) : The Poetry Foundation

Read this poem: Her Kind by Anne Sexton : The Poetry Foundation

American poet Anne Sexton 

was born on this day in 1928.

(Source of photo: The Poetry Foundation)

"Some keep the Sabbath going to Church -- " by Emily Dickinson : The Poetry Foundation

Read this poem: Some keep the Sabbath going to Church – (236) by Emily Dickinson : The Poetry Foundation

Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

American poet

Anonymous poem: "Western Wind"

WESTERN WIND
Anonymous:

Western wind, when will thou blow,
The small rain down can rain?
Christ, if my love were in my arms
And I in my bed again!

Chrysanthemum: An Anthology

Poetry

"The Revisionist Dream" by Maxine Kumin : The Poetry Archive

     American poet Maxine Kumin said that her poem "The Revisionist Dream" is about the suicide of American poet Anne Sexton in 1974 and that it is a villanelle. Read "The Revisionist Dream" by Maxine Kumin and listen to a recording of her introducing and reading that poem of hers.

Maxine Kumin (1925-2014)
Poet and author

Six-Word Hymn by Monty Gilmer

SIX-WORD HYMN
by Monty Gilmer

(Adapted from the hymn "Alleluia" (1972),
written by Jerry Sinclair)

Alleluia!
I will praise
my Savior.


First appeared in SMITH Magazine Six-Word Memoirs, sixwordmemoirs.com

C. K. Williams, born on this day in 1936 : The Poetry Foundation

Read a biography of C. K. Williams : The Poetry Foundation

"Thanatopsis" by William Cullen Bryant : The Poetry Foundation

Read Thanatopsis by William Cullen Bryant : The Poetry Foundation

American poet William Cullen Bryant was born on this day in 1794.

"My November Guest" by Robert Frost

Read this poem by American poet Robert Frost from his first book of poetry A Boy's Will (1913): "My November Guest"

Robert Frost (1874-1963)

Stephen Crane, born on this day in 1871 : The Poetry Foundation

Read a biography of this American writer: Stephen Crane : The Poetry Foundation

Stephen Crane (1871-1900)

"In Heaven" by Stephen Crane : The Poetry Foundation

American writer Stephen Crane was born on this day in 1871. Read this poem of his: In Heaven by Stephen Crane : The Poetry Foundation

Stephen Crane (1871-1900)