The Most Read Poems of 2021

#1

Knelt

By Ryan Ramsey

It’s not easy to lord over
feet you are devoted to wash
or abuse
the one you suffer with

#2

I Am Not Upset

By Natalie Bassie

You say you aren’t
The author of confusion

But here I am
Here you are
Here we are

#3

Failed Adoption, Michigan

By Kelly Scott Franklin

that night in the dark I ransacked
the house again,
wild for anything that might still bear her smell,
only to catch
in an empty room
a trace of smoke in the air.
And the fields were burning.

#4

Mild Praise

By R. James

My whispers of acclamation,
Scarcely heard above the madding crowd.
“Hallowed be Thy name” I say.
But I don’t say it very loud.

#5

Kindness

By Jonathan Chan

what ferments when the quiet stirrings cease
as stillness comes upon a wrestling heart
the gift of knowing each day to receive
so fullness overflows in every part –

#6

Two Ways to be a Flame

By Betsy K. Brown

The flame in the little, squat glass
Is doing a perpetual jig
Like an unselfconscious young girl.
She scrunches and stretches and stands,
She bows and blesses the air
With busy child’s hands.

#7

the shortest day of the year

By J.A. Baker

we are saturated
in modern new
england glory
before winter is sinister:
heated seats
dry vent coats
electric candle
in the window to hint
at invitation.

#8

Cosmogony

By Elizabeth Genovise

Is it possible that I could rebuild this house
Into a place worthy of You? The door in the roof
Is long sealed, yet sun and heat keep slipping through.
The stone has moved. For infinity without You is
Insensate, inert on the floor.
Let it lie.
Let the cycles perish, the logic die.
Open the secret door to sacred time.

#9

Startle

By Lisa Cooper

The birds have gone silent;
sensation held— bright eve,
native threshing bees, old
beings. The love-tarnished
stars die, high noble event,
and in sight, beetles hover
beneath, thrive. Godliness
beat; no light-shred in eves,
doth evening reestablish:
disaster be the novel nigh;
the birds have gone silent.

#10

Heavier is the Word

By Caleb Saenz

Heavy is the poet’s heart
Heavier the word he finds

Heavy is the pastor’s burden
Heavier the word he finds