get your poem on #36

From now until midnight one week from today, comments on this post will be open so you can leave a permalink to your blog post for this week’s contribution. Did you poem to one of Rick Mobb’s paintings? We hope so, but if something else inspired you, we want to read that work, too.
Be sure [...]

read write prompt #36: ekphrastic extravaganza

Read Write Poem is having an ekphrastic extravaganza this week, thanks to the talents and generosity of poet and artist Rick Mobbs.
In his welcome message on his blog, Mine Enemy Grows Older, Rick says, “I started this as a place to share my own work but find I am more interested in the stories, myths, [...]

get the lead out, it’s noting really: ekphrasis

Note from the management: This post of Christine’s was supposed to run next week! But it is such a lovely one, we’ll leave it up (and probably re-issue it again next Thursday, too, because Christine has a special prompt for next week that ties to ekprhrastic poetry!) But don’t miss Juliet’s book review in your [...]


welcome to read write poem

Read Write Poem is an online gathering place for those who love poetry — and for those who suspect that, with a little nurturing, they could grow to love poetry. Whether you are new to writing poetry or have been writing for years, you are welcome here. If you don’t write poetry but love to read and discuss it, this is also the place for you. Read more about the project.


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  • read write poem newsfeed

      You still have time -- until December 15 -- to get into the current Postal Poetry contest. Find details about it here.

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      Here's the New York Times article about all the winners of the National Book Award, including Mark Doty for Fire to Fire.

      Congratulations, Mark Doty!

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      "My Career in Radio" by Garrison Keillor: The poem, and there is always a daily dose of Garrison's poetry selections (of others' poems) in The Writer's Almanac.

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      poetryvlog.com is a terrific site, "A weekly video reading of poetry by the poet".

      About.com has an intriguing (long, and not vetted by Read Write Poem) list of "Video Poetry Archives and Anthologies" with links to all kinds of stuff.

      Christine offers us Collin Kelly's latest project: a video blog on YouTube.

      Do you have some link love, know of some? Do tell. Email us at news (at) readwritepoem (dot) org.

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      So how do you find poetry news in your area? One way is to look for the closest (geographically) writing program and find the supporting blog it is sure to have.

      Examples? Bulletin Board: MFA Carbondale for Southern Illinois and G*L*O for Portland, Oregon.

      It's a good way to find readings, seminars, submissions, etc.

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  • random
    poetry prompt

      A different word or phrase will appear here each time you visit the site or refresh the page. Your current prompt is — prairie

  • random
    collaborating tip

    Visit a recent prose entry on another poet's blog. Find a poem in its text. (Be sure to ask permission first and then credit the other poet's musings in your final piece.)


  • random
    writing tip

    Think of all the things that provoke anxiety in you, and write them into a poem.

  • random
    reading tip

    Savor the poem. Read it multiple times, slowly. You may even want to read small sections of it slowly, and give yourself a long pause after each to let the poem sink in. Read the poem at least once before you try to figure out its meaning or make any notes on it. Absorb the poem. Inhale its scent.

  • random
    poetry quote

    The poem on the page is only a shadow of the poem in the mind. And the poem in the mind is only a shadow of the poetry and the mystery of the things in this world. — Stanley Kunitz