Poems We Carry: A Thank You

In celebration of Read A Little Poetry’s 20th anniversary, I set out to ask poets: What poem do you carry in your heart? 89 poets answered.

Poets from everywhere—BIPOC writers, LGBTQIA+ voices, poets from the US and outside it, poets from the global south, poets writing in languages other than English, poets the institutions overlook. And what emerged was a map of what holds us together.

Some poems appeared multiple times, chosen independently: Cameron Awkward-Rich’s “Meditations in an Emergency.” Mahmoud Darwish’s witness. Russell Edson’s strange comfort. And Lucille Clifton, chosen four times, our anchor—whose poem said: “won’t you celebrate with me / … / that everyday / something has tried to kill me / and has failed.”

This is what poets do for each other. This is what we do for the world.

Read A Little Poetry has always been about holding poets to the light—and here, in Poems We Carry, poets held each other. 89 poets lifted each other up. This is the world I want to live in.

As we wrap up the series, I am filled with so much gratitude for everyone who has participated. Thank you for trusting me and for showing us what holds you. Thank you for reminding us we’re not alone in the dark.

For 20 years, I’ve sustained this work—entirely on my own. I believe poems should belong to everyone and that access should be free. What does it take to tend to something this long? Stubbornness, maybe. Love, definitely. Knowing that this all matters: absolutely. 

With gratitude for 20 years, and hope for many more—
T.

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