Poetry & Spoken Word

‘Agent Orange’: a Poem About the Terrible Legacy the U.S. Left in Vietnam

Staff / Truthdig Apr 15, 2015 As the 40th anniversary of the fall of Saigon approaches, Paul Lobo Portugés' moving poem serves as a reminder of the pernicious and long-lasting effects American interventionism has had in Vietnam. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

‘Each Breath Despite the Air’: A Poet’s View of Gaza From America

Staff / Truthdig Apr 1, 2015 Kenji Liu's poem about the 2014 conflict in Gaza is especially poignant to listen to as news of the Palestinian Authority joining the International Criminal Court spreads. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

‘Shock Wave’: A Compelling Poem About the Boston Marathon Bombings

Staff / Truthdig Mar 18, 2015 Leslie McGrath's poem gives us an intimate look into a person's mind in the immediate aftermath of the April 15, 2013, tragedy. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

‘Kia’: A Poem That Reflects a Group’s Struggle for Better Working Conditions

Staff / Truthdig Mar 4, 2015 Paul Hlava describes series "Negotiations" as a collage of "language, metaphors and quotes, from managers, workers and management flyers" that were used during a vote to form a collective bargaining unit. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

‘Cycle’: A Poem to Remind Us of Lives Lost Before the #BlackLivesMatter Movement

Staff / Truthdig Feb 18, 2015 Before Michael Brown was shot in Ferguson, before Eric Garner was choked to death in New York and before the #BlackLivesMatter movement had even begun, Amadou Diallo, Sean Bell and countless other unarmed black men had been slain by police. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

That Bird Has My Wings: An Acrostic Pantoum About Death Row Prisoner Jarvis Jay Masters

Staff / Truthdig Feb 4, 2015 Carolyne Wright's touching poem echoes the powerful words of Jarvis Jay Masters, an African-American on death row in a California prison. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

A Report to the City Commissioners: A Poem About Freedom and Privacy in the Surveillance Age

BLANK Jan 22, 2015 At a time when the surveillance state seems stronger than ever, award-winning poet David Wagoner reminds us that sometimes even the most regimented pursuits may lead to a freedom that can only be found in unexpected places . Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )