There’s no looking back. Looking back

Read more »
bottom

101 poems
&
counting

My mother sits befuddled at her telephone

Read more »
bottom

Among the dead in a stranger’s plowed field

Read more »
bottom

Among the dead in a stranger’s plowed field

Read more »
bottom

There’s a beach in San Diego where you can drop your clothes [...]

Read more »
bottom

It is January. It rises up out of the ice and puts [...]

Read more »
bottom

There’s a picture draped behind each face. Huge black light posters, in [...]

Read more »
bottom

The birders lie dressed in their beds, gravely waiting. Soon, they will [...]

Read more »
bottom

Llamas dot the hills. White rugs on a green rug. You never [...]

Read more »
bottom

I am a veritable fontof metal knowledge though I’m sure a certain [...]

Read more »
bottom

In the Yard today, the pine needles began snowing down. The way [...]

Read more »
bottom

Color of J.C. Penny’s jewelry, trinket in a Cracker Jack box, color [...]

Read more »
bottom
Browse all faces & first lines →

New poem added every Tuesday

  1. American history
    Written by Bob Hicok
    Read by Ash Bowen
    Published on January 21, 2008
  2. Horn
    Written by Bruce Bond
    Read by Ashley McHugh
    Published on January 29, 2008
  3. Trip to the Moon
    Written by Barry Ballard
    Read by Johnathon Williams
    Published on February 4, 2008
  4. crab louse
    Written by D.A. Powell
    Read by Geoffrey Brock
    Published on February 12, 2008
  5. Come Back
    Written by Dorianne Laux
    Read by Davis McCombs
    Published on February 19, 2008
  6. January Monster
    Written by Zachary Schomburg
    Read by Heather Christle
    Published on February 26, 2008
  7. Stardust Memories
    Written by Daniel Nester
    Read by Amanda Auchter
    Published on March 4, 2008
  8. Counting
    Written by Carolyn Guinzio
    Read by Quan Barry
    Published on March 11, 2008
  9. Sad Dictionary
    Written by Richard Siken
    Read by Amanda Auchter
    Published on March 17, 2008
  10. Dave Mustaine Changes Lives
    Written by Anthony Robinson
    Read by Zachary Schomburg
    Published on March 24, 2008
  11. Or Something Like That
    Written by C. Dale Young
    Read by D.A. Powell
    Published on April 1, 2008
  12. Gold
    Written by Dorianne Laux
    Read by Michael Heffernan
    Published on April 8, 2008
  13. Cash at Folsom
    Written by Seth Abramson
    Read by Leon Stokesbury
    Published on April 14, 2008
  14. Spree fall
    Written by Bob Hicok
    Read by Beth Ann Fennelly
    Published on April 22, 2008
  15. Poem for the Adoptive Mother
    Written by Amanda Auchter
    Read by Chloë Honum
    Published on April 29, 2008
  16. To ************* From the Residents of Point Reyes
    Written by Lola Haskins
    Read by Carolyn Guinzio
    Published on May 6, 2008
  17. Cruz del Condor
    Written by Quan Barry
    Read by Davis McCombs
    Published on May 13, 2008
  18. Bug
    Written by Alison Stine
    Read by Amanda Auchter
    Published on May 20, 2008
  19. Onward and Onward
    Written by Heather Christle
    Read by Adam Clay
    Published on May 27, 2008
  20. Thou May’st in Me Behold
    Written by David Graham
    Read by Sara Stripling
    Published on June 3, 2008
  21. The Natives Are Restless
    Written by Sandra Beasley
    Read by Steve Mueske
    Published on June 10, 2008
  22. The Second Night
    Written by Christina Davis
    Read by Brandon Shimoda
    Published on June 17, 2008
  23. Elegy of a Young Motorcyclist
    Written by Ryan Courtwright
    Read by Rachel Mallino
    Published on June 24, 2008
  24. Somewhere Once, a House
    Written by Paul Dickey
    Read by Aimee Nezhukumatathil
    Published on July 1, 2008
  25. Fragment From A Nonexistent Yiddish Poet #34
    Written by Jehanne Dubrow
    Read by Van K. Brock
    Published on July 8, 2008
  26. For the Weight of Gravity in Early Autumn
    Written by Adam Clay
    Read by Jennifer Perrine
    Published on July 15, 2008
  27. The Lover
    Written by Karen Rigby
    Read by Julie Carter
    Published on July 21, 2008
  28. Middles of Deserts
    Written by Amy MacLennan
    Read by Erica Dawson
    Published on July 29, 2008
  29. The Gift
    Written by Lola Haskins
    Read by Juliana Gray
    Published on August 5, 2008
  30. Matilda Stays Up Late With No Questions to Ask
    Written by Farrah Field
    Read by Brad Leithauser
    Published on August 12, 2008
  31. The Hotel Devotion
    Written by Sandra Beasley
    Read by Katrina Vandenberg
    Published on August 19, 2008
  32. A kind of elegance to the attachments
    Written by Bob Hicok
    Read by Eric McHenry
    Published on August 26, 2008
  33. barbershop talc
    Written by D.A. Powell
    Read by Greg Williamson
    Published on September 2, 2008
  34. The Avalanche Club
    Written by Heather Christle
    Read by Eric McHenry
    Published on September 9, 2008
  35. Mother’s Day
    Written by Dorianne Laux
    Read by Andrew Hudgins
    Published on September 16, 2008
  36. Halley’s Comet
    Written by Trent Nutting
    Read by Steve Mueske
    Published on September 23, 2008
  37. Gray Sisters to Perseus
    Written by Lori Lamothe
    Read by Michael Robins
    Published on September 30, 2008
  38. Third Hand Tale: West Virginia
    Written by James Cervantes
    Read by Lori Lamothe
    Published on October 7, 2008
  39. At the Border Between the States
    Written by Seth Abramson
    Read by Greg Williamson
    Published on October 14, 2008
  40. Testimony
    Written by Emma Bolden
    Read by Abraham Smith
    Published on October 21, 2008
  41. Chryssoie
    Written by Maureen Alsop
    Read by Adam Clay
    Published on October 27, 2008
  42. Honor Thy
    Written by Sandy Longhorn
    Read by Maureen Alsop
    Published on November 4, 2008
  43. Jacob’s Dream
    Written by Adam Tessier
    Read by Ralph Adamo
    Published on November 11, 2008
  44. The Last Holdout
    Written by Alison Pelegrin
    Read by Tony Tost
    Published on November 18, 2008
  45. Ghazal with Heavenly Bodies
    Written by Sarah J. Sloat
    Read by Lori Lamothe
    Published on November 25, 2008
  46. Mommy
    Written by Megan Collins
    Read by Jennifer Jabaily
    Published on December 2, 2008
  47. Robertson Boulevard Onramp
    Written by Michelle Bitting
    Read by Tobias Wray
    Published on December 9, 2008
  48. Unlisted
    Written by Adam O. Davis
    Read by Mary Angelino
    Published on December 16, 2008
  49. A Tongue in a Mouth of Teeth is a Powerful Muscle
    Written by S. Whitney Holmes
    Read by Jeff Simpson
    Published on December 23, 2008
  50. Evaporation
    Written by Brent Goodman
    Read by Lori Lamothe
    Published on December 30, 2008
  51. Falling
    Written by Traci Brimhall
    Read by Jeff Simpson
    Published on January 6, 2009
  52. Head First
    Written by Kristine Ong Muslim
    Read by Erika Seay
    Published on January 13, 2009
  53. Rube Goldberg Draws the Human Heart
    Written by M.C. Allan
    Read by Chris Wong
    Published on January 20, 2009
  54. Sonatine
    Written by Chad Temples
    Read by Louise Mathias
    Published on January 27, 2009
  55. Renaming Wonder
    Written by Sally Ashton
    Read by Doug Van Gundy
    Published on February 3, 2009
  56. Dear Atamasco Lily
    Written by Susan Meyers
    Read by Steven D. Schroeder
    Published on February 10, 2009
  57. Mother’s Day Omen
    Written by Michelle Bitting
    Read by Daniel Nester
    Published on February 17, 2009
  58. Rape of Myself
    Written by Seth Abramson
    Read by Brent Goodman
    Published on February 24, 2009
  59. Fire on the Mount
    Written by Kerry Krouse
    Read by Daniel Nester
    Published on March 3, 2009
  60. Argument From Design
    Written by T.R. Hummer
    Read by Geoffrey Brock
    Published on March 10, 2009
  61. More Matter, Less Art
    Written by Gibson Fay-LeBlanc
    Read by Deborah Ager
    Published on March 17, 2009
  62. 1920: In Duluth, Minnesota
    Written by T.J. Jarrett
    Read by Michael Heffernan
    Published on March 24, 2009
  63. Past Perfect
    Written by Christina Olson
    Read by Jacob Shores-Argüello
    Published on March 31, 2009
  64. Caddyshackesque
    Written by Daniel Nester
    Read by Shin Yu Pai
    Published on April 7, 2009
  65. Cadaver Dog
    Written by Seth Abramson
    Read by K.C. Trommer
    Published on April 14, 2009
  66. A meeting of estrangements
    Written by Bob Hicok
    Read by Nate Pritts
    Published on April 21, 2009
  67. Self Portrait Descending Slowly into the Atlantic Ocean
    Written by Oliver delaPaz
    Read by Davis McCombs
    Published on April 28, 2009
  68. Climbing the Air
    Written by Leslie St. John
    Read by Nic Sebastian
    Published on May 5, 2009
  69. Somewhere South of Miles City
    Written by Joe Wilkins
    Read by Rachel Mallino
    Published on May 12, 2009
  70. In the Town Called Allegory
    Written by Jeffrey Thomson
    Read by Brett Harrington
    Published on May 19, 2009
  71. At Ruann’s, Having Tea with the Future
    Written by Sally Molini
    Read by April Christiansen
    Published on May 26, 2009
  72. I Slept Last Night
    Written by Jen Currin
    Read by Matthew Nienow
    Published on June 2, 2009
  73. Courage and Horror Stand Side by Side
    Written by Katrina Vandenberg
    Read by Steve Mueske
    Published on June 9, 2009
  74. Shack & Creek
    Written by Carolyn Guinzio
    Read by David Sanders
    Published on June 16, 2009
  75. The Painter’s Wife
    Written by Tania Pryputniewicz
    Read by Jehanne Dubrow
    Published on June 23, 2009
  76. Errata
    Written by Lisa Fay Coutley
    Read by Moira Egan
    Published on June 30, 2009
  77. If There’s Nothing You Need
    Written by Adam Houle
    Read by Christine Casson
    Published on July 7, 2009
  78. Double Abecedarian: My Life as a Double Agent
    Written by Steve Mueske
    Read by Kimberly Quiogue Andrews
    Published on July 14, 2009
  79. Gospel According to Garth
    Written by Casey Thayer
    Read by Adam Tessier
    Published on July 21, 2009
  80. Some Unsettling Connections
    Written by Kimberly Quiogue Andrews
    Read by Oliver delaPaz
    Published on July 28, 2009
  81. The Liturgy of the Gym
    Written by Kerry Krouse
    Read by Johnathon Williams
    Published on August 4, 2009
  82. The Trick with the Stick
    Written by Matthew Thorburn
    Read by Jessy Randall
    Published on August 11, 2009
  83. Dear Happenstance
    Written by Susan Meyers
    Read by Josh Brown
    Published on August 18, 2009
  84. Madrigal
    Written by John Campbell
    Read by Michael Shewmaker
    Published on August 25, 2009
  85. Learn to Sing by Singing
    Written by Arra Lynn Ross
    Read by Taylor Mali
    Published on September 1, 2009
  86. Death by Precipitation
    Written by Patricia Lockwood
    Read by Corrie Williamson
    Published on September 8, 2009
  87. Eastern Bloc
    Written by Jehanne Dubrow
    Read by Rachel Mallino
    Published on September 15, 2009
  88. Nocturne with Snowstorm and Power Outage
    Written by Keith Montesano
    Read by Stacey Lynn Brown
    Published on September 22, 2009
  89. Devotion: Hawk
    Written by Dennis Hinrichsen
    Read by Stacy Kidd
    Published on September 29, 2009
  90. unnamable force in reserve
    Written by Amy McNamara
    Read by Steven D. Schroeder
    Published on October 6, 2009
  91. Asterism (Visitor Center)
    Written by Ali Shapiro
    Read by Ernest Hilbert
    Published on October 13, 2009
  92. Enter the Dragon
    Written by C. Dale Young
    Read by Geoffrey Brock
    Published on October 20, 2009
  93. Lost Eyes or The Lost Art of Transcription
    Written by Lesley Jenike
    Read by Randy Prunty
    Published on October 27, 2009
  94. Training
    Written by Sarah J. Sloat
    Read by Aran Donovan
    Published on November 3, 2009
  95. The Golden Age
    Written by Piotr Gwiazda
    Read by Brian Spears
    Published on November 10, 2009
  96. Figure and Motion
    Written by Andrew Goodspeed
    Read by Ashley McHugh
    Published on November 17, 2009
  97. Moravia
    Written by Nick McRae
    Read by Amy Letter
    Published on November 24, 2009
  98. The Son of Man
    Written by Sarah Kathryn Moore
    Read by Katie Nichol
    Published on December 1, 2009
  99. Alice in the Looking Glass
    Written by A.E. Stallings
    Read by Ernest Hilbert
    Published on December 8, 2009
  100. James Bond Suite
    Written by Amit Majmudar
    Read by Amy Watkins
    Published on December 15, 2009
  101. Encomium: Highway 49 South
    Written by Joe Wilkins
    Read by Matthew Henriksen
    Published on December 22, 2009

linebreak