Poetic Medicine

In a New York classroom one year after 9-11, students composed the following 9-11 poem. A relative of the teacher had perished on that day i...

By Andrew Freborg I stand to honor the promise the flag represents. You kneel because that promise has been broken. I stand to affirm m...

By Kirsty Niven I cobbled together this tower with my own calloused hands. Foraging each component, the smooth pebbles of beaches, skim...

By Gary Soto Spring ’73, I’m two time zones from my country And hacking at the soldier-straight weeds — I’m captain of their destruction...

By Clementine von Radic I dreamed I cut open my own arm and out poured the Willamette River. Out poured each dead friend buried in the ...

By Camille Dungy Still life with Ensure, vials of fentanyl, oxycodone, water. Still life with crackers maybe, hopefully, he will keep...

By Nathan McClain The whole mess — pair of chopsticks pulled apart, tarnished pot of tea, even my fortune (which was no good) — we...

By Nixi Schroeder I am 13 when I have my first paranormal encounter: a whispered moan fizzling in the wind like a holler from a car windo...

By Charles Bukowski Long walks at night that's what good for the soul:i peeking into windows watching tired housewives trying to f...

By Harvey Shapiro What was ceremonially impure, he knew Was his life. The laws were not followed. The god was unhonored. Anxiety sat on...

By Antwon Rose I am confused and afraid I wonder what path I will take I hear that there’s only two ways out I see mothers bury their s...

By Donna Kate Rushin I've had enough I'm sick of seeing and touching Both sides of things Sick of being the damn bridge for ev...

By Yusef Komunyakaa Fast breaks. Lay ups. With Mercury's Insignia on our sneakers, We outmaneuvered to footwork Of bad angels. Noth...

By Jimmy Santiago Baca We are born with dreams in our hearts, looking for better days ahead. At the gates we are given new papers, our old ...

By Katherine Perry In America after walking down the aisle and having my father give me away to a man who changed my name and insisted...

By Woody Guthrie I’m gonna tell you fascists You may be surprised The people in this world Are getting organized You’re bound to lose...

By Naomi Shihab Nye The Arabs used to say, When a stranger appears at your door, feed him for three days before asking who he is, wher...

By Christy Namee Eriksen An illegal immigrant looks like a nickel tails up on the sidewalk, fallen out of someone’s pocket. She look...

By Andy Watts This is the school that democracy built. These are the children That learned in the school that democracy built. This...

By Joy Harjo We were dreaming on an occupied island at the farthest edge of a trembling nation when it went down. Two towers rose u...