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John Keats' "To Sleep"
“To die, to sleep.” Sometimes the space between the two seems as slight as that intervening comma. Happy reading.
This is a public episode. If you'd…
1 year ago
William Shakespeare's "Sonnet 94: They that have power to hurt..."
I might say today’s poem is all subtext–if it weren’t for all the text. Ambiguous praise, sincere romantic angst, just the right amount of bitter wit…
1 year ago
Live: William Carlos Williams' "The Fool's Song"
This special, live edition of The Daily Poem was recorded at the Close Reads 10th Anniversary celebration last weekend in Concord, NC. Happy reading!…
1 year ago
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' "Prize Jelly"
Best known as the author of The Yearling and Cross Creek, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings enjoyed a long side-hustle as an occasional poet. Happy reading.
T…
1 year ago
Malcolm Guite's "Transfiguration"
Today’s poem comes from Guite’s excellent collection, Sounding the Seasons (now in a new edition with over 100 sonnets!). Blessed feast and happy rea…
1 year, 1 month ago
Terrence Hayes’ “The Same City”
Hayes has said he longs for a language that can circumvent idea and communicate pure emotion—in today’s poem that quest is dramatized in a powerful w…
1 year, 1 month ago
Billy Collins' "On Turning Ten"
Happy tenth birthday to the Close Reads podcast, and happy reading!
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or…
1 year, 1 month ago
Philip Appleman's "Anniversary"
Today’s poem is one of “promises kept, and / promises / still to keep.” Happy reading.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with o…
1 year, 1 month ago
John Donne's "The Anniversary"
Today’s poem looks forward to a long and prosperous “reign.” Happy reading.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscr…
1 year, 1 month ago
Rhina P. Espaillat's "Gardening"
This week’s poems are arranged around the themes of retrospection and anniversaries in honor of the Close Reads Podcast celebrating its tenth year. T…
1 year, 1 month ago