Poem of the Week: “The Chairs That No One Sits In” by Billy Collins

You see them on porches and on lawns down by the lakeside, usually arranged in pairs implying a couple who might sit there and look out at the water or the big shade trees. The trouble is you never see anyone sitting in these forlorn chairs though at one time it must have seemed a

Poem of the Week: “Digging” by Seamus Heaney

In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, we present this poem by Irish poet Seamus Heaney (1939-2013). Between my finger and my thumb The squat pen rests; snug as a gun. Under my window, a clean rasping sound When the spade sinks into gravelly ground: My father, digging. I look down Till his straining rump

Poem of the Week: “Keeping Quiet” by Pablo Neruda

Now we will count to twelve and we will all keep still. For once on the face of the earth, let’s not speak in any language; let’s stop for one second, and not move our arms so much. It would be an exotic moment without rush, without engines; we would all be together in a

Poem of the Week: “Love of My Flesh, Living Death” by Lorna Dee Cervantes

after García Lorca Once I wasn’t always so plain. I was strewn feathers on a cross of dune, an expanse of ocean at my feet, garlands of gulls.    Sirens and gulls. They couldn’t tame you. You know as well as they: to be a dove is to bear the falcon at your breast, your nights,

Poem of the Week: “For Saundra” by Nikki Giovanni

For Saundra by Nikki Giovanni i wanted to write a poem that rhymes but revolution doesn’t lend itself to be-bopping then my neighbor who thinks i hate asked – do you ever write tree poems – i like trees so i thought i’ll write a beautiful green tree poem peeked from my window to check

Poetry Potluck: Anita’s Cheese Grits

These cheese grits, brought to you by Center for Poetry Director Anita Skeen, are a staple at our annual staff holiday party. Anita writes: During the holiday season, I think we often recall friends and family who are no longer physically with us but who live on in other ways. The recipe for cheese glints

Poem of the Week: “How to Skip a Stone” by Jackson Graham

This week’s Poem of the Week is a very special one, as it features the winner of our Sixth Annual Richard Benvenuto High School Poetry Competition! Richard Benvenuto taught in the English Department at Michigan State University for 20 years, and his wife, Joyce, started the competition in his name for all Michigan high schoolers.

Poem of the Week: “Gone From My Sight” by Henry van Dyke

Gone From My Sight Henry van Dyke I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white

Poetry Potluck: Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal

Food and poetry have long been a perfect pairing. In this reblog of a section in our newsletter, we share a recipe and poem duo to feed all the senses. To submit your own pairing, e-mail cpoetry@msu.edu with the subject line “Poetry Potluck Submission” and include the recipe, poem, and a brief introduction as to why