Adrian Brinkerhoff Poetry Foundation
@brinkerhoffpoetry.bsky.social
A literary nonprofit bringing you great poetry from across places, eras, and traditions. https://www.brinkerhoffpoetry.org/
I work all day, and get half-drunk at night. Waking at four to soundless dark, I stare. In time the curtain-edges will grow light. Stephen Fry performs "Aubade" by Philip Larkin in this week's new poem film. #NationalPoetryDayUK https://www.brinkerhoffpoetry.org/poems/aubade
Stephen Fry reads "Aubade" by Philip Larkin
I work all day, and get half-drunk at night.
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"Tonight, holding a stranger in my arms— Suddenly a downpour, a late Summer storm." Larry Levis was born #OnThisDay in 1946. Watch Anthony Anaxagorou perform Levis' poem "After the Blue Note Closes." https://www.brinkerhoffpoetry.org/poems/after-the-blue-note-closes
Anthony Anaxagorou reads "After the Blue Note Closes" by Larry Levis
Tonight, holding a stranger in my arms—
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"Madame Sosostris, famous clairvoyante, Had a bad cold, nevertheless Is known to be the wisest woman in Europe, With a wicked pack of cards." T. S. Eliot was born on this day in 1888. Watch Giannina Braschi perform an excerpt from his poem "The Waste Land."
"Exile. Ration-book pudding. Bowls of dripping and the fixed smile of the school pianist playing "Iolanthe," "Land of Hope and Glory" and "John Peel."" Eavan Boland was born #OnThisDay in 1944. Watch Martina Evans perform her poem "An Irish Childhood in England: 1951."
Martina Evans reads "An Irish Childhood in England: 1951" by Eavan Boland
The bickering of vowels on the buses,
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In your imagination of their crimes, for you have already imagined them, there must be a bronze bell. Marcelo Hernandez Castillo performs an excerpt from his poem "Eclogue: A Field Guide and Cure." https://www.brinkerhoffpoetry.org/poems/from-eclogue-a-field-guide-and-cure
Marcelo Hernandez Castillo reads from "Eclogue: A Field Guide and Cure"
In your imagination of their crimes,
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"It is a willow when summer is over, a willow by the river from which no leaf has fallen nor bitten by the sun turned orange or crimson." William Carlos Williams was born on this day in 1883. www.brinkerhoffpoetry.org/poems/willow...
William Carlos Williams - "Willow Poem"
It is a willow when summer is over,
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"Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths, Enwrought with golden and silver light..." Freddie Fox performs W. B. Yeats' "He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven" in this week's new poem film.
"You cannot know this yet but it is the last hike you will ever take with your dog." CMarie Fuhrman performs her poem "Beargrass" in a 2023 poem film. https://www.brinkerhoffpoetry.org/poems/beargrass
CMarie Fuhrman reads "Beargrass"
You cannot know this yet
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"The dreams of the dreamer Are life-drops that pass The break in the heart To the soul’s hour-glass." Georgia Douglas Johnson, from "The Dreams of the Dreamer" https://www.brinkerhoffpoetry.org/poems/the-dreams-of-the-dreamer
Georgia Douglas Johnson - "The Dreams of the Dreamer"
The dreams of the dreamer
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"My heart aches, and a drowsy numbness pains My sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk..." Stephen Fry performs John Keats' "Ode to a Nightingale" at Keats House in this week's new poem film. https://www.brinkerhoffpoetry.org/poems/ode-to-a-nightingale
Stephn Fry reads "Ode to a Nightingale" by John Keats
My heart aches, and a drowsy numbness pains
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"September rain falls on the house. In the failing light, the old grandmother sits in the kitchen with the child beside the Little Marvel Stove, reading the jokes from the almanac, laughing and talking to hide her tears." Elizabeth Bishop, from "Sestina."
Elizabeth Bishop - "Sestina"
September rain falls on the house.
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RIP Rachel Blau DuPlessis, poet & critic extraordinaire. from one of her poems, & from an essay of hers on George Oppen—
"Rain on Rahoon falls softly, softly falling, Where my dark lover lies. Sad is his voice that calls me, sadly calling, At grey moonrise. " Ruth Negga performs James Joyce's poem "She Weeps over Rahoon" in a new poem film created with Bloomsday Film Festival.
Farewell to a beloved author, poet, and farmer. “In a world that feels under siege, Wendell's writing asks us to slow down, to focus on community, and to think seriously about what we owe each other as fellow humans." —Alyson Forbes, Counterpoint Publisher Our thoughts are with the Berry family.
We are saddened to hear of the passing of Wendell Berry, a poet, novelist, farmer, and steadfast advocate for the environment and agrarian values. Read his poem "The Peace of Wild Things" and watch a performance of it: https://www.brinkerhoffpoetry.org/poems/the-peace-of-wild-things
Friedli Walton reads "The Peace of Wild Things" by Wendell Berry
When despair for the world grows in me
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Six of our films will appear at REELpoetry Int'l Film Festival starting 9/18! Congratulations to directors Matthew Thompson, Jean Coleman & Savannah Acquah + performers Olwen Fouéré, Brontez Purnell, Marjorie Lotfi, Sin à Tes Souhaits, Kate Durbin & Adeeba Shahid Talukder!
2026 Program - REELpoetry
2026 Festival Program SEPTEMBER 18-25 9/18 Friday – Reception At Moxy, Downtown Houston, 412 Main St. 9/19-20 Sat & Sun – Live: Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston 9/21-25 On-line only NOTE: All times are given in Central Standard Time (CST) Saturday, September 19 AFTERNOON PROGRAM – Part 1 (doors at 1:00 PM- ends 5:00 […]
reelpoetry.org
"It's a great day, Sunday, when we pile into the car and set off with a purpose – a pilgrimage across the city, to Wembley, the Lahore Karhai. " ImtiazDharker, "At the Lahore Karhai" https://www.brinkerhoffpoetry.org/poems/at-the-lahore-karhai
Imtiaz Dharker - "At the Lahore Karhai"
It's a great day, Sunday,
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"Ghost-bike couriers skid through puddles, vanish into night. Nothing stands still. Not here. Not anymore. " Leah Minto performs Stephen James Smith's poem "Universal City" in a 2025 film created with Bloomsday Film Festival. https://www.brinkerhoffpoetry.org/poems/universal-city
Leah Minto performs "Universal City" by Stephen James Smith
Welcome home. Your flight touched down in morning mist, drizzle soft.
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In shallow nests among pebbles most of the eggs survived the high tides. August slips into September. Fledglings, light as whelk shells, get ready to fly. Jane Clarke, from "Little Tern Colony, Kilcoole," published in A Change in the Air by Bloodaxe Books
Jane Clarke - "Little Tern Colony, Kilcoole"
In shallow nests among pebbles
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I hate poetry, the officer says, I only like writing where you can make an argument. Anything he asks, I must answer. This, too, he likes. I don’t tell him he will be in a poem where the argument will be anti-American. Solmaz Sharif, "He, Too" https://www.brinkerhoffpoetry.org/poems/he-too
Solmaz Sharif - "He, Too"
Upon my return to the US, he
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"There are days we live as if death were nowhere in the background." Li-Young Lee was born #OnThisDay in 1957. Watch Rachel Bower perform Lee's poem "From Blossoms." https://www.brinkerhoffpoetry.org/poems/from-blossoms
Congratulations to Tommy Creagh, whose film of John Keats' "Ode to a Nightingale" was selected by Aesthetica Film Festival! Performed by Stephen Fry, this film will be screened at Aesthetica in York, UK, beginning November 4th. Catch our online release of the film coming up on September 10th.
We're proud to have our films screened as part of the The Park Series: Living Canvas by IPUT at IMMA from August 27 through September 9. Sept. 2–4th from 12:30–2:30 PM, stop by IMMA's Front Lawn for six poem films read by Irish poets and performers.
Living Canvas at IMMA - IMMA
Living Canvas at IMMA is a partnership between IMMA and IPUT Real Estate, Ireland’s leading property investment company and visionary supporter of the arts, that brings Europe’s largest digital art screen to the grounds of IMMA. The screening programme presents contemporary art films and moving image works, allowing visitors and the wider community to enjoy […]
imma.ie
"When my love swears that she is made of truth, I do believe her, though I know she lies." Simon Callow performs William Shakespeare's "Sonnet 138" in our latest poem film. https://www.brinkerhoffpoetry.org/poems/sonnet-138
"And let the lesson be — to be yersel's, Ye needna fash gin it's to be ocht else. To be yersel's — and to mak' that worth bein', Nae harder job to mortals has been gi'en." Hugh MacDiarmid was born #OnThisDay in 1892. https://www.brinkerhoffpoetry.org/poems/from-a-drunk-man-looks-at-the-thistle?=1
Hugh MacDiarmid - from "A Drunk Man Looks at a Thistle"
Puir Burns, wha's bouquet like a shot kail blaws
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"I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times, In life after life, in age after age forever." Kwaku Fortune performs Rabindranath Tagore's "Unending Love" in a new poem film created in collaboration with Bloomsday Film Festival.
Wendell Berry was born #OnThisDay in 1934. Here, Friedli Walton performs Berry's poem "The Peace of Wild Things" in a poem film created with RADA.
"Already a mooted goal and tomorrow perhaps an arms base, a livid sector, the full moon dominates the dark." Robert Hayden was born #OnThisDay in 1913.
Robert Hayden - "Full Moon"
No longer throne of a goddess to whom we pray,
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Look at you, sitting there being good. After two years you're still dying for a cigarette. And not drinking on weekdays, who thought that one up? Happy birthday to Kim Addonizio! https://www.brinkerhoffpoetry.org/poems/good-girl
Sidonie McLaren reads "Good Girl" by Kim Addonizio
Look at you, sitting there being good.
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Great interview with @poetrylondon.bsky.social editor Niall Campbell on @brinkerhoffpoetry.bsky.social's The Gimpse podcast. He was in conversation with fellow Bloodaxe poet Hannah Lowe. Their poetry is distributed in the US by @consortiumbooks.bsky.social. www.brinkerhoffpoetry.org/podcast/seas...
The Glimpse, S3E9: Lightning, Chance, and Magic with Niall Campbell
Niall Campbell speaks with host Hannah Lowe about love and labor, reading back catalogs, being the kind of person who says “no.” Niall reads his poem “Good Night” and Deborah Digges’ poem “The Birthin...
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