Read Your Favorite Poems Meetup Series

Playlist for All Previous Meetups

#5

“Smoke in our Hair” by Ofelia Zepada

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/53449/smoke-in-our-hair

“Ithaca” by C. P. Cavafy

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/51296/ithaka-56d22eef917ec

“I’m Nobody, Who Are You” by Emily Dickinson

https://poets.org/poem/im-nobody-who-are-you-260

“The Candy Express” by Daniel Szyper (personal poem)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/16lbNa7xBxjiB3AmWfxWt8S_EySEabiPKWjNYlFe3AhY/edit?usp=drivesdk

“Meeting at Night” by Robert Browning

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43766/meeting-at-night

“A Red, Red Rose” by Robert Burns

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43812/a-red-red-rose

“Poem for Salt” by LeRoy V Quintana

http://thelasttoast.blogspot.com/2010/12/poem-for-salt-leroy-v-quintana.html

 “Yes, He Would” by Paul Senn (personal poem)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1__27AkzKLFjp3gPKldqzm58zRRpoOcYD/view?usp=drivesdk

“Letter from Mother” by Asrul Sani

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WsAGUSnt2Zr9EKv3TyOm4wKDRGHvJGZo/view?usp=drivesdk

“Focus is” by Dr. Faizan (personal poem)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gHF5lxOnBUsgIJMwf1wja0D_5KnBRG3l/view?usp=drivesdk

“Give me a single day” by Edgar Allen Gust

https://www.best-poems.net/edgar-albert-guest/give-me-a-single-day.html

“My Ancestral Home” by Rupali Sharma (personal poem)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DTRZxKZBBScbx259O-7q8sk4Lok_HYfw56J-XB8U8yI/edit?usp=sharing

IN OUR BREAKOUT SESSIONS, WE CREATED A COLLABORATIVE POEM USING “REDEMPTION” AS THE CENTRAL PROMPT. EACH PARTICIPANT HELPED CREATE A STANZA USING ONE OF THESE SIX THEMES AS A GUIDE: COLOR, EMOTION, ACTION, SOUND, SHAPE, AND PLACE.

THESE ARE THE TWO COLLARBORATION POEMS CREATED:

Redemption sounds like forgiveness

But it doesn’t behave like forgiveness

Wilting fire colored petals fluttering to the ground

My feelings in turmoil, turning upside down

Branches of redemption spring from roots of regret

I’m saved! I’m saved! Oh what Joy! 

After holding up the weight for so long

My shoulders relax 

I’m redeemed!

By Maritza, Faizan, Brian, Rose, Marco, Paul, & Rupali (21MAR2022)

………………………………………………………………………….

I am the dark.

The noise inside my head banging, bursting, exploding my brain. 

A continuous breaking in from the outside and breaking out from the inside shaping my destiny.

Until finally, suddenly, it stops.

The weight of guilt and remorse slowly dissipates into a fine mist of redemption.

After the frozen ground trapped the bulb inside the dark cell of the earth, the warm sun breaks in, allowing me to break out.

Looking through to the end of this dark tunnel, I wish for a bright and warm light of spring.

Then, I let my breath blooms into the sun embracing the warmth. 

I flow.

Like water overcoming the obstacle of the rock, the ego, the no. 

Winding and swerving and finally, falling into over the chasm with the powerful release of the fall. 

And there is nothing, nothing but peace.

Just the birds and the soft bells of the wind chime.

Peace. Finally.

By: Green, Dark, White & Yellow 

Alison, Jo, Marg, & Mike

(21MAR2022)

#4

“Bluebird” by Charles Bukowski

https://allpoetry.com/poem/8509539-Bluebird-by-Charles-Bukowski

“The History of One Tough Mother Fucker” by Charles Bukowski

https://allpoetry.com/The-History-Of-One-Tough-Motherfucker

“Lost Daughters” by Brian Allenby (personal poem)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zAqmGbbjw3xv_59h2qdPImQLtooRJ1j3/view?usp=drivesdk

“Success is counted Sweetest” by Emily Dickinson

https://www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/success-is-counted-sweetest-112/

“Funhouse” by Charles Bukowski

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/jan/16/saturday-poem-funhouse-charles-bukowski

Love All Equally by Di Zi Gui

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Di_Zi_Gui#Chapter_5_-_Love_All_Equally_%EF%BC%88%E6%B3%9B%E6%84%9B%E7%9C%BE%EF%BC%89

“The Weighing” by Jane Hirschfield

https://poets.org/poem/weighing

 “Crush” by Richard Sikin

The United Host by Dr. Faizan (personal poem)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jBOjtYpt7ikP5zYVuSdUkSwMapuPBDDp/view?usp=drivesdk

“In the Restaurant” by Sapardi Djoko Damono

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DIoiv3yKCqoIMkmK43PNkF1H-raOtEuI/view?usp=drivesdk

IN OUR BREAKOUT SESSIONS, WE CREATED A COLLABORATIVE POEM USING “COURAGE” AS THE CENTRAL PROMPT. EACH PARTICIPANT HELPED CREATE A STANZA INCLUDING ONE OF THESE SIX THEMES: COLOR, EMOTION, ACTION, SOUND, SHAPE, AND PLACE.

THESE ARE THE TWO COLLARBORATION POEMS CREATED:

The dark grey of an eighth story stone cliff withstanding the storms and battering waves.

This painting of fire he must enter to save the lives he never knew.

Courage: something petering out, a memory perhaps, perhaps a hand rising above fists, holding rather than hating.

An odd form, a tear really. Still, I act!

I taste it in the morning, seems it’s on my breath; I taste it in the evening, fear brings to mind my death.

Hushed confessions in his lover’s ear spoke of the shadow of silent sacrifice.

By: Steve, Mike, Faizan, Aleesha, Brian, & Marco (14MAR2022)

………………………………………………………………………….

I cry out for courage 

Seeing red, blood rises. 

The sweat of fear dripping down my face, 

go whirling through focused delirium. 

Courage scares the hell out of me.

I cry out, battlefield rage.  Shocked at my own impetus, baffled by my instinct to love. 

Courage lets me allow, that some things might be worth dying for and living for. 

Yet to struggle, to cry, to endeavor, to hurt, to give up, to burn burn burn burn. 

If courage can stop war, I would devote my life to find that courage. 

With the courage, I feel I can live longer.

With your courage, not only I am listening, also I speak out. 

Courage allows us to overcome fear and makes life worth living.

It will be in my time, not your time, I will spread my courage. 

Will I ever have the courage to be… myself?

By: Alison, D, DLJ, Joseph, Jeff, Kevin & Marg (15MAR2022)

#3

“The Laws of God, The Laws of Man” by A. E. Housman

https://kalliope.org/en/text/housman2002020312

“I am a Refugee” by Nathan T.

https://writingourfuture.nwp.org/americancreed/responses/1385-i-am-a-refugee-poemI%20am%20a%20Refugee%20Poem%20-%20American%20Creed

“Crossing the Bar” by Alfred Lloyd Tennyson

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45321/crossing-the-bar

“Ship’s Manifest” by Amanda Gorman

https://lsoares.blogs.sapo.pt/amanda-gorman-ships-manifest-2436256

“The Heron” by Robert Pan (personal poem)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZeI8_Dg649EXeiXdPLKvhiDrz3Vjj4LQ/view?usp=drivesdk

On Being Human by Margaretha (personal poem)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ul0VGFdNi6qj-kfBdJUkV-vSbHrV0YxA/view?usp=drivesdk

 “How can I keep from singing” American Christian Hymn by Robert Lowry

https://www.godtube.com/popular-hymns/how-can-i-keep-from-singing/

Eva Cassidy Rendition:

Untitled Poem by Paul Senn (personal poem)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lt3_5jPW1ULLqCLaYuIyrLvbSKM-3SZl/view?usp=drivesdk

“Blowing in the Wind” by Bob Dylan

#2

Poems Read in #2

“This is the life of Nelo” (personal poem)

“I, Too” by Langston Hughes 

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47558/i-too

“Holy Thursday” by William Blake

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43661/holy-thursday-twas-on-a-holy-thursday-their-innocent-faces-clean

“Almeria” by Pablo Neruda

“I shall not live in vain” by Emily Dickinson

“The Due of the Dead” by William Makepeace Thackeray

https://www.poetrynook.com/poem/due-dead

“Maggie and Milly and Molly and May” by E. E. Cummings

https://poets.org/poem/maggie-and-milly-and-molly-and-may

“We shall fight on the Beaches” by Winston Churchill

“The invitation” by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

http://www.oriahmountaindreamer.com/

“Song for Autumn” by Mary Oliver

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse?contentId=42420

“The soul” by Paul S (personal poem)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qQnPgOnbirofQAONnJjKYJkqJCmPP8tt/view?usp=drivesdk

“Tears for Freedom Lost” by Maritza (personal poem)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iIGeMxeAdmwj6eVZe_z_T-wKZiX8WbEu/view?usp=drivesdk

#1

Poems Read in #1 :

“I measure every Grief I meet ” by Emily Dickinson

https://poets.org/poem/i-measure-every-grief-i-meet-561

“The Hostile Sun” by D. H. Lawrence https://celestialtimepiece.com/2015/12/07/the-hostile-sun-the-poetry-of-d-h-lawrence/

“Bury Me in a Free Land” by Francis Ellen Watkins Harper https://poets.org/poem/bury-me-free-land

“The Combat” by Edwin Muir https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-combat/

“The Road not Taken” by Robert Frost https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44272/the-road-not-taken

“Do Not Go Gentle in that Good Night” by Dylan Thomas https://poets.org/poem/do-not-go-gentle-good-night

“The Worst Thing” by Chelan Harkin https://chelanharkin.com/the-worst-thing/

“Say Wow” by Chelan Harkin https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/words-of-wonder/say-wow-chelan-harkin/

“When I am Dead my Dearest” by Christina Georgina Rossetti https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45003/when-i-am-dead-my-dearest

“O Captain, My Captain” by Walt Whitman https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45474/o-captain-my-captain

Aku” by Khairil Anwar https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/aku-5/

“Sonnet LVI’ by Shakespeare http://www.shakespeares-sonnets.com/sonnet/56

“Anabel Lee” by Edgar Allen Poe https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44885/annabel-lee

“Gitanjali Poem #2” by Rabindranath Tagore https://www.escritas.org/en/t/5311/gitanjali

“Lipstick” by Mary Karr https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse?contentId=34860

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