One Poem Only

One Poem More gathers all of this week’s poems from One Poem Only—an unhurried chance to listen again, or catch what you missed. This week’s poems Every Cell Misses You by Dolon Pramanik Butterflied, oh by Yonsiri Rojas You’ll Hear Music by Chandra Tyler Mountain Patience by Ayesha Khalid Lost Bond by Pinky Faith Okafor Love Song by Dorothy Parker Plus one new one to carry us into the week ahead W...

One Poem Only is a daily ritual: one poem, center stage, just for now. Love Song Dorothy Parker My own dear love, he is strong and bold And he cares not what comes after. His words ring sweet as a chime of gold, And his eyes are lit with laughter. He is jubilant as a flag unfurled— Oh, a girl, she’d not forget him. My own dear love, he is all my world,— And I wish I’d never met him. My love, he’s...

One Poem Only is a daily poetry podcast offering a quiet moment with a single poem—read aloud, without analysis or noise. Lost Bond Pinky Faith Okafor There are stories the world claims to tell, Yet, we do not hear. Stories of girls denied the gift of learning, Who live through nightmares and are not allowed to dream. Of salma–12 who watches her uncle close a business deal behind closed doors Scru...

A daily reading from One Poem Only—a quiet space for a single poem, read aloud. Patience Ayesha Mohal Yes, you need patience, The patience of a steadfast tree, In autumn, it lets its leaves go free. Believing, not hoping alone, In spring, he will have grown. No one sits beneath the tree, Yet soon, they will come to see. Look, the birds are drawing near. Yes! yes! yes! Spring is here. Everyone is h...

Wednesdays on One Poem Only are a double feature: one poem here on the podcast, and one more by the same poet shared on Instagram. You’ll Hear Music Chandra Tyler Mountain This poem is included in the 2024-25 Stafford Challenge Anthology . If you listen closely— you’ll hear the music in the quiet humming, pulses and surges of electricity, moving through us with light and energy. If you listen clos...

One Poem Only is a daily ritual: one poem, center stage, just for now. Butterflied, oh Yonsiri Rojas I fish-eyed, butterflied collection of furrowed bones composed of dust and glitter scattered throughout the meadow the gray-hued calcium boughs quiver at the poisonous, foetid breath of their beast… a skin sack stuffed with long rancid meat; sheathed in tettered flesh, a machete II a blood-colored...

One Poem Only is a daily poetry podcast offering a quiet moment with a single poem—read aloud, without analysis or noise. Every Cell Misses You Dolon Pramanik Every single cell in my body calls your name. It’s like they all know who they belong to. When you’re near, they hum quietly, like a song only I can feel. When you’re far, they scream — they ache. My heart tries to stay strong, but it beats...

Here’s your recap of this week’s poems plus one new poem to carry us into the week ahead. Feb 2 Light by Shannon West @shannonswriting on Instagram. Feb 3 The Cloak of Quiet Light by Dorothy Howls @thehumanspell on Instagram. Feb 4 Dreams by Cecilia Knight @ceciliaknightpoems on Instagram. Her book, The Burning Pages , is available now. Listen to me read Treasures by Cecilia on Instagram @rembrand...

Magnetism Emma Lazarus By the impulse of my will, By the red flame in my blood, By me nerves' electric thrill, By the passion of my mood, My concentrated desire, My undying, desperate love, I ignore Fate, I defy her, Iron-hearted Death I move. When the town lies numb with sleep, Here, round-eyed I sit; my breath Quickly stirred, my flesh a-creep, And I force the gates of death. I nor move nor spea...

glass half Michaela Godding I’m sorry for this mess all over the all over the carpet dragging at my heels like a half dead dog look at me my empty is so big my stomach full of stars unapologizing on the way down at least I can say I bellied the sky. More from Michaela Godding ↓ @michaelagodding on Instagram Her book, The Year Our Grandmothers Died , is available now.

On My Own Srishti Jain In the air of the city, I feel like a hermit sauntering across landscape with lavenders and a breeze that welcomes me where I always belonged. It is serene waters that touch my storm wishing me luck to never settle but embrace warm cuddles that I chase within. I see the sky turning pink, blue, & purple, all the hues that prosper my energy to bear the brunt of times alone...

Dreams Cecilia Knight i’m three months postpartum and i’m dreaming again not the kind you get when you’re asleep what is sleep anyway? the kind you get when you’re awake when your eyes are open and you feel alive the kind of dreams that remind you of your fire i say hello to them and they feel like a long lost friend that you meet up with in an empty parking lot at 5am to watch the sunrise and tal...

The Cloak of Quiet Light Dorothy Howls I weave a thread of silver-white, around my chest, soft-shielded tight. A shimmer-glow no eye can see, but here it stands, protecting me. No harsh word sticks, no shadow stays, I’m held in warmth through stormy days. More from Dorothy Howls ↓ @thehumanspell on Instagram Mentioned in this episode: One Poem Only submissions are open. I’m filling the next chapte...

Light Shannon West I’m afraid of the dark and so is he We hold each other close and drift off into dreams The closet light is on - just how we like it Light spills from beneath the door bathing the room in its warmth The basement, being alone, silence, death - belong to the dark The kitchen table, love, togetherness, life - belong to the light Kindred spirits safe in our nest We don’t need to fear...

Here’s your recap of this week’s poems plus one new poem to carry us into the week ahead. Jan 26 - Born of Ashes by Goldilocks @goldenprisonpoetry on Instagram. Jan 27 - The Mythical Hero of Legend has Clinical Depression by Oscar W Isaacs @oscarwritesaacs on Instagram. Jan 28 - Cheap Therapy Cheat Sheet by Tanja Lau @tanias.butterflies on Instagram. Tania's Butterflies on Substack. Listen to me r...

Without The Noise Dipanwita Dey Who am I when the notifications stop buzzing, when applause fades, when the lights dim and disappear, when no eyes are left to watch? Who am I when the corner of the bedside empties quietly, the pillow no longer wet with secrets, the chaos no longer hums merrily, and my father’s strength vanishes— softly into thin air? Am I still kind if no one claps for my empathy?...

Chai and Chrysanthemum Mahnoor Rehan My heart leans Towards abomination You— Earliest ray of sunshine Walking sack of calculated calories Abyss, philanthropy I follow the squirrels as they hop from one willow to another When I leave my world behind just to play a minuscule part in yours White Chrysanthemum disguised As a human Bang bang Swish swish They rip my petals off in bits Even god loves you...

The Grief that Grips Our World Raquel Dionísio Abrantes Silver waters whisper amidst slender branches where sisters bathe. My twin of bone and moss whose woe I fold like my grandmother folded her husband’s pants — carefully, and in silence. Come, feral storm. Let us be washed from the grief that grips our world tonight. More from Raquel Dionísio Abrantes ↓ @poets_desk on Instagram

Cheap Therapy Cheat Sheet Tanja Lau This poem was originally published by Part-Time Poets . Issue 29. No excuses. Pick your next move: Some people scream into pillows, others name their grief Steve and set a place for him at dinner. Mine is called Ernesto, he’s Swedish and he’s a stranger to daylight, so I forgive him. Naturally, he likes to quote Kierkegaard. That guy knew a thing or two about co...

The Mythical Hero of Legend has Clinical Depression Oscar W Isaacs The prophecy breathed of him cleaving through demons. Reaping through legions of unspeakable evil. Reaming to pieces their grievous leaders. Then of the deceased, he’d retrieve them from Elysium by redeeming their lethal lesions. A kill he’s healed… But in reality, the Hero just sleeps in. His steed, he forgot to feed it. Lives off...

Born of Ashes Goldilocks We were born of ashes and blood, In a shattered past stained with death. Each word hurt like a knife stabbing, Each day felt closer to the end. The pain did not stop for a second, It grew bigger with rage. Despite it all, survival was my saviour. Living got me into the arms of a soul like mine. A soul that needed mine, a soul that found me too. A soul that needed saving an...

Here’s your recap of this week’s poems plus one new poem to carry us into the week ahead. Jan 19 - Chasing the Light by Old Fart with a Guitar @old_fart_with_a_guitar on Instagram. Stream his music: OFWAG LinkTree . Jan 20 - A Merciless Winter by Farida Shamim Jan 21 - Don't call it hope or you'll scare it away by Candace Kronen rom Candace Kronen @candacekronenpoetry on Instagram. Her Substack: S...

Same Old Story Amelia Cabantog Everyday the news replays the same old stories. So, and so, died So, and, so was deported So, and, so's rights are being taken away. Meanwhile a mother is crying because her baby is slowly dying And a brother is screaming because he doesn't know how to cope with all of his feelings And a girl is lying broken, in a bed she did not make. The people outside are screamin...

“Hope isn't a shy thing” Eileen Strawberry Hope isn't a shy thing She has white knuckles and spits grit When oppressors beat down on her shoulders She draws her sword swiftly No hesitation No deliberation She will slay dragons for her kin Hope isn't a pretty thing Scars mar her complexion She's missing some teeth Dirt crusts under her nails Calluses roughen her feet Yet her vision is clear Her hea...

Shimmer Jessie Marie my shimmering heart draped in tears drums a song behind a thorny cage ghosts dressed in moonlight wail against the inky black of night sorrow is stitched into their eyes an echo of dreams heard on the wind I restore myself in the light of the stars a spotlight of hope drinks me up such a dream of being whole again More from Jessie Marie ↓ @Jessie. Kaiser on Instagram and Threa...