POETRY

These authors are tackling important subjects in verse.

8 Novels in Verse by Authors of Color to Read for National Poetry Month

Sex Symbol: How Antinous Became a Gay Code Word in the Victorian Era

The Greek youth Antinous drowned in the Nile—but he would go on to have one of the most remarkable afterlives in history.

11 Things You Should Know About Audre Lorde

Audre Lorde’s poems, speeches, and books helped write the future of feminism. Here are some facts about the woman behind the work.

How do I tell if thee is a sonnet? Let me count the lines.

Poem vs. Sonnet: What’s the Difference?

Plenty of poems are love poems. Why aren’t all of them considered sonnets? In short, rhyme scheme, length, and structure.

Maya Angelou at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in 2010.

Maya Angelou Is Now the First Black Woman to Appear on a U.S. Quarter

The U.S. Mint has officially shipped its Maya Angelou quarters—earning the ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ author another “first” to her name.

Edgar Allan Poe is depicted in an engraved portrait, circa 1845.

9 Intriguing Facts About Edgar Allan Poe

The life of Edgar Allan Poe, author of 'The Tell-Tale Heart' and other horror stories, was as strange as his fiction.

The Tay Bridge Disaster: William McGonagall and the Worst Poem Ever Written

Is William McGonagall the best poet ever? Absolutely not. Is he the best bad poet ever? Quite possibly yes.

Napoleon Sarony, Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

9 Fascinating Facts About Oscar Wilde

'My own business bores me to death; I prefer other people's,' Oscar Wilde once said. Read on for more about this master wit, poet, and playwright.

A birthday message for Anne Brontë written (and illustrated) by her sister Emily in 1841.

A Long-Lost Library of Emily Brontë Poetry and Other Literary Artifacts Is Hitting the Auction Block

The elusive Emily Brontë left precious few handwritten artifacts behind. One could fetch about $1.5 million.

8 Facts About ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing,’ the Black National Anthem

“Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the so-called Black national anthem, was written by 20th-century novelist/poet/songwriter James Weldon Johnson as a rallying cry for perseverance and social justice.

British Library, Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

7 Epic Facts About The Canterbury Tales

Geoffrey Chaucer—known as the "father of English literature"—has written many texts, but none loom as large as 'The Canterbury Tales.'

Patrick Stewart Is Reading a Different Shakespeare Sonnet Live Every Day

If you're looking for something to do at home, tune into Patrick Stewart's Instagram every day to hear him read a different sonnet by Shakespeare.

OpenStreetMap Haiku will capture the colorful character of your hometown in a few (possibly silly) phrases.

Dreaming of Your Favorite City? This Website Will Create a Personalized Haiku Poem About It for You

The developers called the haikus “sometimes fun, often weird, most of the time pretty terrible. Also probably horrifying for haiku purists (sorry).”

Why Do We Call the NCAA Basketball Tournament 'March Madness'?

The story of March Madness has everything: Chaucer, sex-crazed hares, Alice in Wonderland, lawsuits, and a basketball coach-turned-poet from Illinois.

The Library of Congress Needs Help Transcribing Walt Whitman’s Poems and Letters

The Library of Congress is home to the largest collection of Walt Whitman manuscripts on Earth, and it needs your help transcribing and reviewing them.

Vinegar Valentines Were the Victorian Era’s Brilliant Way of Telling Unwanted Suitors to Go Away

Valentine cards are a perfect way for secret admirers to express their love—they’re also perfect for doing the opposite.

'Turdsworth': Lord Byron’s Not-So-Affectionate Nickname for William Wordsworth

The Romantic poets' verse was beautiful and inspired—and so were their insults, though not in the same way.

Emily Dickinson

Read about Emily Dickinson, from her famous poems about love, hope, and death, to her legacy at the Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst.

by James Carling, Urbancanvas // Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

Watch 10 Celebrities Read Edgar Allan Poe’s "The Raven"

Edgar Allan Poe's classic—and kind of creepy—narrative poem has been inspiring artists for nearly 175 years.

Annotations in Copy of Shakespeare's First Folio May Have Been John Milton's

William Shakespeare had an enormous influence on "Paradise Lost" poet John Milton, and new evidence suggests that super fan Milton—who even wrote a poem called "On Shakespeare"—might have owned his idol's first folio.

Joy Harjo Named First Native American Poet Laureate

Joy Harjo, a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation, made history when she received the prestigious title of U.S. poet laureate.

Beowulf Was Written By One Person, According to Computer Analysis

Thanks to a computer algorithm, we know something new about the mysterious author of 'Beowulf:' It was likely just one person.

Bonnie and Clyde Wrote Poetry, And It’s Going Up for Auction

Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow went on a crime spree during the Great Depression. They still found time to compose poetry.

A collection of Bob Dylan poems that was auctioned off by Christie's in 2005.

Bob Dylan's Lyrics, Poetry, and Prose Showcased at Chicago's American Writers Museum

Dylan's personal copy of "The Catcher in the Rye" is one of the rare items on display. In it, he wrote notes and drew doodles.

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