It’s hard to believe we are inching closer to being halfway through 2026, but here we are! The biggest thing I did in May was start working on my 2nd and 3rd poetry manuscripts (not me starting more projects when my 1st manuscript still isn’t accepted for publication 🙈). I also finished NaPoWriMo in the first half of the month, which is wild because in previous years it has taken me until July or August!! I guess I’m in a writing flow state at the moment.
I found this poem while catching up on missed NaPoWriMo prompts. The way each topic shifts is so satisfying. And the apple tree coming back at the end and tying everything together is gorgeous! What a great ending line.
2. “Called Into Play” by A.R. Ammons
This whole thing feels so masterful and intentional. It might be a lesson for me that sometimes ending a line on a preposition or a weaker word is okay, if done right. The voice is strong, the language is unique, and the flow is smooth. 10/10.
3. “After Turning the Clocks Back” by Jennifer Moxley
Another NaPoWriMo prompt find. Love a good simple + accessible but also impactful poem! The last line does so much work here—I think that line alone could end countless poems.
4. “Sweet Daddy” by Patricia Smith
This one is too long to include a screenshot, but totally worth reading. Patricia Smith uses voice and tone so beautifully, and includes so many unique images and descriptions.
5. “a song in the front yard” by Gwendolyn Brooks
My coworker, who also has an MFA in Poetry (there are lots of poets in the scholarly publishing world), brought this piece up! “And I’d like to be a bad woman, too” is such a powerful, iconic line that I will be thinking about a lot. I also personally love the lowercased title as a lowercase fanatic myself, haha.
I hope everyone is enjoying all of the sunshine + outdoor time that this season is bringing! The world seems to have a lot of doom and evil, but so many people are fighting for a better future, and things can change quickly. Just like Spring already feels like Summer, maybe this season of chaos and fascism is about to turn into something else, too.
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