One Poem Only

One Poem Only is a daily ritual: one poem, center stage, just for now. Sparrowfall Arch Budzar While maybe I wasn’t the smartest Or the strongest I never thought unkindly of you And I always sang my song And I Saw you as an angel Up until the very end. More from Arch Budzar ↓ @archbudzar on Instagram You can find more information about their life and work, as well as prints of their art at www.arc...

One Poem Only is a daily poetry podcast offering a quiet moment with a single poem—read aloud, without analysis or noise. Rash Viviana Abnur Everything I know about death I learned the hard way when I saw you go by on the stretcher to intensive therapy I was an atheist like you and I only saw a slight and strange body pass at the speed of light is it that perhaps we live confused or we are just li...

A daily reading from One Poem Only—a quiet space for a single poem, read aloud. Lilies Madilyn Lopez blood gushes from underneath my index fingers underneath my thumbs my eyes go white and pin-point black bloodshot— my artery. my throat seals itself shut like a wooden door stuck in humidity’s clutch i tilt my chin to the popcorn ceiling gasping for air that’s already escaped Lilies are my favorite...

Wednesdays on One Poem Only are Handpicked, a new feature where I go deeper into the poem of the day and discuss what made it stand out to me. “Hija de tu madre.” Elisha Fernandez “Eres hija de tu madre.” “You are your mother’s daughter,” is a phrase I heard growing up, from strangers, family members, friends, most repeated by my own mother. I wanted to claw myself out of my skin Panicked by the i...

One Poem Only is a daily ritual: one poem, center stage, just for now. Unnamed Season Jules Travers He lives in a peaceful territory of his own, relatively well-defined. In conversation with his selves, he navigates daily weather, rainbows, mirages, sinkholes. Now, can he still live with himself, with you? Your eyes align, two shapes of water join, sun-lit, know themselves reflected. He feels your...

One Poem Only is a daily poetry podcast offering a quiet moment with a single poem—read aloud, without analysis or noise. Life Is the Backside Of Embroidery by Aasfa Siddiqui Aasfa Siddiqui I’ve been thinking about it lately life feels like the backside of embroidery. All I see are the knots, threads pulling in opposite directions, lines crossing with no pattern, like someone stitched it blindfold...

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 “Words don’t even flow to me anymore” by Lisa Le Guiader The Return of Titans by Kate M. Sine Sunday Ritual by Evyan Roberts Prince of Marble by Auri Tunglsdottir Ice Box Woes by JACK"E" Women of Stardust and Soil by Steph Patterson Plus one new one to...

One Poem Only is a daily ritual: one poem, center stage, just for now. Women of Stardust and Soil Steph Patterson We start as stardust and then soil, we become, Underneath our feet the bones sing of so many women before us, Their whispers form tendrils winding up to tip into your ear, Their stories will not be forgotten as the earth holds their proof of life, When their voices rose in anger and de...

One Poem Only is a daily poetry podcast offering a quiet moment with a single poem—read aloud, without analysis or noise. Ice Box Woes JACK”E” This freezing and thawing dosey doe the outdoors has frosted over ice falls often, putting the Ice Man of history in balmy palms though I hear the sunshine is dim in the panhandle. A chuck roast whose rump has frozen rock salt sprinkling if this is dinner I...

A daily reading from One Poem Only—a quiet space for a single poem, read aloud. Prince of Marble Auri Tunglsdottir I’ve put you on a pedestal For some reason. One day it was there, And I put you up, It looked right. I’ve made you a statue of marble and gold, Shining in the dark – the moon looks dull compared to you; Glowing in the sun – that’s learning how to look golden from you. I’ve made you im...

Wednesdays on One Poem Only are Handpicked, a new feature where I go deeper into the poem of the day and discuss what made it stand out to me. Sunday Ritual Evyan Roberts Residing in her pink robe, the one with the acrylic zipper in the front and the unnecessary homemaker-like lace at the collar. She sets her matching orthopedic slippers, to the side, and kneels over the basin. Like praying to dei...

One Poem Only is a daily ritual: one poem, center stage, just for now. The Return of Titans Kate M. Sine The last leaf of autumn falls, striking the door like a match, lighting our world with the magic from a distant universe. We watch the spirits pass us by at the window, our breath fogging the glass as the archaic creatures pad past, shepherding their kind to safety while the world sleeps throug...

One Poem Only is a daily poetry podcast offering a quiet moment with a single poem—read aloud, without analysis or noise. “Words don’t even flow to me anymore” Lisa Le Guiader Words don’t even flow to me anymore I think tiredness got me The source has gotten stabbed Strangled I think I’m getting tired having been let to storm and bleed it out, pouring this heart soft out In your arms On your chest...

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 What's Wrong with My Heart by Gillian Shiels A Few Weeks Into the Dreams by Jorge Lopez Llorente Benedict Fruit by Yonsiri Rojas Disjointed Conversations by Jean Wathugu Human-Nature by Katie-May Fincham In the Hot Spring Locker Room by Haley DiRenzo Pl...

One Poem Only is a daily ritual: one poem, center stage, just for now. In the Hot Spring Locker Room Haley DiRenzo I saw naked women scrubbing salted skin as my mother ushered me past. Eyes lingered on bodies raw and round. Breasts dangling, bellies drooping. Sketched scars and stretch marks painted in different shades. Clay earth, bruised sky, blue vein. My own body was a girl’s then. Still, I’d...

One Poem Only is a daily poetry podcast offering a quiet moment with a single poem—read aloud, without analysis or noise. Human-Nature Katie-May Fincham In the stillness of the awakening forest, where twilight dances with the dawn, human hearts pulse beneath the light rays, piercing the gloom like fragile promises. We wander, shadows flickering among blooms, breathing in the sweet scent of renewal...

A daily reading from One Poem Only—a quiet space for a single poem, read aloud. Disjointed Conversations Jean Wathugu Because I saw that obligatory smile I am dismembering the foot in my mouth Your eyes like to wander in the middle of my lame anecdote So here’s my prosthetic humour So I can fake it enough to make it How about you write me a technical manual on how to be So in between the jargon I...

Wednesdays on One Poem Only are Handpicked, a new feature where I go deeper into the poem of the day and discuss what made it stand out to me. Benedict Fruit Yonsiri Rojas the goose hisses in its ivory crochet suit; sauntering the stoned road, a flinch of light bathing the pigeon’s pearls, the town’s brute animal—its local needful, lazy pal might have carved off some of its benedict fruit. the goo...

One Poem Only is a daily ritual: one poem, center stage, just for now. A Few Weeks Into the Dreams Jorge Lopez Llorente Back then, a few bodies ago, you knew how to get your dreams delivered. You would sleep in the shape of a question mark and the empty side of the bed would be the silent answer. Now the silence is broken by you answering the door late, groggy. Now dreams are strangers’ hands, wit...

One Poem Only is a daily poetry podcast offering a quiet moment with a single poem—read aloud, without analysis or noise. What's Wrong with My Heart Gillian Shiels My heart is a little broken: Sometimes it does too much ticking And not enough tocking. It’s an electrical signal disruption, They tell me. I take my tablets every day And they help. Most of the time. But I worry. I can’t help it. Over...

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 Aching by Brittany Searle Kempaiah La Mariposa de Fierro by Christiane Williams-Vigil They Built the Wall Themselves by M. A. Dubbs Nine Novembers Later by Erin Zarro Shadow Infested Room by Himani Goel Show & Tell by Shahé Mankerian Plus one new on...

One Poem Only is a daily ritual: one poem, center stage, just for now. Show & Tell Shahé Mankerian This poem was first published in Contemporary Verse 2 , Summer 2024 (Vol. 47, No. 1) To Lucille Clifton José lifted a rabbit from a corroded cage and said, “This is Jesús. We found him sleeping among the dead daffodils.” Elizabeth asked us to cover our ears “Because Beethoven was deaf,” she said...

One Poem Only is a daily poetry podcast offering a quiet moment with a single poem—read aloud, without analysis or noise. Shadow Infested Room Himani Goel Closing the door on the shadow infested room? I say no I pull the curtains open. Shaky hands Windows stuck Strain harder pushed open with a rattle Sudden breeze hair swept away Curtains blown The wind takes the lead to start a dance with the mos...

A daily reading from One Poem Only—a quiet space for a single poem, read aloud. Nine Novembers Later Erin Zarro TW: Violence Nine Novembers later You plucked flowers from my mouth and weaved them into a crown You sang me into submission and we made beautiful music together but in the morning, you didn't remember my name. When I wanted to leave you, you gave me sunlight, promised me forever, slid a...

Wednesdays on One Poem Only are Handpicked, a new feature where I go deeper into the poem of the day and discuss what made it stand out to me. They Built the Wall Themselves M. A. Dubbs On any given weekday on the east boardwalk of Port Washington, you’ll find fishermen of leisure. Long white beards, shirtless with an all over tan, crepey skin a canvas of tattoos; a visual storyboard of his trials...