2026
Gunslingers by Skyelyn Riggs-Davis
“Gunslingers” by Skyelyn Riggs-Davis taking your place across from me. Oureyes meet, hands hover over the big ironon our hips. My sister, my identical twin. You makeme feel like a…
Poem archive
Poems
Read poems preserved from the AZPoetry archive.
2026
Down Together by Roger Clyne
"Down Together" by Roger Clyne We could write our names here in the mudNo one's around to see themWe could hang our shoes right here in a treeNo one's around to steal them I could…
2026
Big Iron by Marty Robbins
"Big Iron" by Marty Robbins To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine dayHardly spoke to folks around him, didn't have too much to sayNo one dared to ask his business, no…
2026
Running in a Red State by Cymelle Leah Edwards
"Running in a Red State" by Cymelle Leah Edwards Don’t be political. Sinclair Wash Trail: Anger is that which your body recognizes as alien; that which has been whittled nonexiste…
2026
Pieces of the Night by Doug Hopkins
"Pieces of the Night" by Doug Hopkins Well is it any wonder that the stars don't just rush byWhen you're only doin' 60 through this oh-so-vacant nightBut it's lackin' something bi…
2026
Burn Wall Street Burn by The Klute
Read the poem "Burn Wall Street Burn" I watch CNBC.I read the Wall Street Journal.I check stock tickers,Study insider reports,Consult my broker on a daily basis.After careful deli…
2025
'Hooked Claus' by The Klute
For the longest time,no one remembered how we were partners,the Good Cop and Bad Cop of Yuletide,a symphony of jingle bells and rattling chains‘ere we drove out of sight.How distu…
2025
"Birdwatcher" by Aaron Hopkins-Johnson
I’m a bird.One day, the thru-hiker came byand tried guessing my name.She got it wrong. But birdbrains know how to spot beauty over faults.For the first time in my life, I didn’t w…
2025
'Alas Poor Yorick' by The Klute
Alas, Poor Yorick I regard the sad little manAs I stand in line at Ye Olde Churro HutWith equal measures of pity and hatredHe wears a tri-cornered, tri-colored hat that is by desi…
2025
Haiku from Seventeen Syllables by Hisaye Yamamoto
"Haiku from Seventeen Syllables" by Hisaye Yamamoto it was so much easier to say yes, yes, even when one meant no. About the author Hisaye Yamamoto Haiku, Silence, and Struggle in…
2025
Green & Red by Ashley Naftule
"Green & Red" by Ashley Naftule When I was six,my favorite part about eating watermelonwas harvesting the black seeds. My parents would cut off the green skinso I could slip my to…
2025
And Ain't I An American by Jeremiah Blue
"And Ain't I An American" by Jeremiah Blue I do appreciate the eaglebut not enough to call it Americanand tattoo it on my arm with bannersof "God Bless the USA" Because I am hopin…
2025
WHAT'S WRONG WITH BEING HUMAN poem by Josh Rathkamp
"WHAT'S WRONG WITH BEING HUMAN" by Josh Rathkamp I lived two houses down a dead end street.When the river ran roughwe checked our basements.We called to each other to help.We haul…
2025
The Vegetarian's Nightmare poem by Baxter Black
"The Vegetarian's Nightmare" a cowboy poem by Baxter Black parsley power ladies and diner and makeyou a shameful degrading confession adeed of disgrace in the name of goodtaste th…
2025
it'll take the edge off they say by Natasha Murdock
"it'll take the edge off they say" by Natasha Murdock but I am made of edgesedges of elbows & guilt & feet & babyedges staring me in the face—painmanaged through natural technique…
2025
My 20th Birthday Haiku by Joseph Nieves
"My 20th Birthday Haiku" by Joseph Nieves When I was a boyI dreamed of being BatmanNow? Even more so. About the poet Joseph Nieves With the Phoenix Fan Fusion Nerd Poetry Slam hos…
2025
14 Lines From Love Letters Or Suicide Notes by Doc Luben
"14 Lines From Love Letters Or Suicide Notes" by Doc Luben IDon't freak outIIWe both know this has been coming for a long time.III I've been staying awake at night, wondering if I…
2025
Your Poem Is Not That Good Because (A Response) by Christopher Fox Graham
"Your Poem Is Not That Good Because (A Response)" by Christopher Fox Graham I Our poems were never that goodno one's wereor the world we talked aboutthe revolution we prophesiedwo…
2025
If The Drum Is A Woman by Jayne Cortez
"If The Drum Is A Woman" by Jayne Cortez If the drum is a womanwhy are you pounding your drum into an insanebabblewhy are you pistol whipping your drum at dawnwhy are you shooting…
2025
"The Laziest Man in the World" by Kalen Lander
Behold!The laziest man in the world Damn I'm a pearlCountless bedsores adorn my soulCheck it, if you see my corpse walking round it's a hoaxCause in my head I'm at home Tomes tell…
2025
"Desert" by Richard Shelton
Sometimes the sun is still tryingto get to the horizonwhen a daylight moon comes up,fragile and almost transparent,the ghost of a white birdwith damaged wings,blown from its cours…
2025
Land Alive by David Chorlton
"Land Alive" by David Chorlton The land isn’t empty, it’s thinking.What will it become whenthe clouds disappear and rocks take their place?Where will the roads lead when they reac…
2025
Ridin' by Badger Clark
"Ridin'" by Badger Clark There is some that like the city— Grass that's curried smooth and green,Theaytres and stranglin' collars, Wagons run by gasoline—But for me it's hawse and…
2025
Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare
"Sonnet 18" by William Shakespeare Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?Thou art more lovely and more temperate:Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,And summer’s lease h…
2025
The Tiger by William Blake
"The Tiger" by William Blake Tiger Tiger, burning bright,In the forests of the night;What immortal hand or eye,Could frame thy fearful symmetry? In what distant deeps or skies.Bur…
2025
The Men Who Don't Fit In by Robert Service
"The Men Who Don't Fit In" by Robert Service There’s a race of men that don’t fit in,A race that can’t stay still;So they break the hearts of kith and kin,And they roam the world…
2025
The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost
"The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,And sorry I could not travel bothAnd be one traveler, long I stoodAnd looked down one as far as I couldTo…
2025
On His Blindness by John Milton
"On His Blindness" or also known as "When I Consider How My Light Is Spent" John Milton, published in 1673 When I consider how my light is spentEre half my days in this dark world…
2025
Hang On To Your Chairs (Ass Bomb) by Bill Campana
"Hang On To Your Chairs (Ass Bomb)" by Bill Campana Hang on to your chairs, I'm going back to school. I'm getting my degree, a doctorate in science.I'm going to MIT to study mathe…
2025
Fine White Powder by Naughty A. Mouse
"Fine White Powder" by Naughty A. Mouse sugar is a fine white powder let me saythat a little louder sugar is a finewhite powder let me say that a littlelouder sugar is a fine whit…
2025
The Mesa Wind Blows Soft by Colorado Pete
"The Mesa Wind Blows Soft" by Colorado Pete The Mesa wind blows soft tonight,The western stars bend low,Self-shadowed in the firelightOld dreams, old visions go. The mesa wind's a…
2025
'Benedicto' by Edward Abbey
Benedicto: May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome,dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.May your rivers flow without end,meandering through pastoral valleys tinkling…
2025
Get Back by Paul McCartney
"Get Back" by Paul McCartney Jojo was a man who thought he was a lonerBut he knew it couldn't lastJojo left his home in Tucson, ArizonaFor some California grass Get back, get back…
2025
The Dude Wrangler by Gail Gardner
"The Dude Wrangler" by Gail Gardner I'll tell you of a sad, sad story,Of how a cowboy fell from grace,Now really this is something awful,There never was so sad a case. One time I…
2025
Dissolve by Sherwin Bitsui
"Dissolve" by Sherwin Bitsui This mountain stands near us: mountaining.It mistakes morning with mourning,when we wear slippers of steamto erase our carbon footprint. Wind's finger…
2025
56 by Robert FlipSide Daniels
"56" by Robert FlipSide Daniels there is a fine line betweenheroismand martyrdom and on march 3rd 1991i watched a man nearly cross it swing56 blows led to this king's ransom swing…
2025
You Are Not What They Speak Of You by Jason Lalli
"You Are Not What They Speak Of You" by Jason Lalli because you are not what they speak of youlike a tornado destroys a villageis how quickly it destroyed his spiritDeja Vu with n…
2025
Ritchie Valens by Myrlin Hepworth
"Ritchie Valens" by Myrlin Hepworth you were the child of R&B and jump Bluesflamingo guitar and Mariachi Richard Valenzuela they called you Ritchie saidValenzuela was too much for…
2025
Desert Rain by Mary Hunter Austin
"Desert Rain" by Mary Hunter Austin High in the sierras, All the smouldering summer, Sudden the thunder! Rain on the mountains, Rain on the dry hills, Spate in the gullies. Manna…
2025
Revolution by Ed Mabrey
"Revolution" by Ed Mabrey there's a revolution. it spins like theworld on its axis, so fast it carries nosound, no image, not even a vibration andif you run fast, like a child, an…
2025
Arizona by Clarence Urmy
"Arizona" by Clarence Urmy A land of mesas and of rocky spires, Of wondrous canyons and eternal fires, Of boundless spaces, mighty, grim, and grand, Where silence keeps the secret…
2025
grey walls by atlas st. cloud
"grey walls" by atlas st. cloud i am laying,in an empty room. the temperature is steadily droppingand frost begins to crystalize on my eyelashes,playing tricks with my irises. i a…
2025
A Frothy Limerick About Gail by Gary Bowers
"A Frothy Limerick About Gail" by Gary Bowers A thirsty young lass name of GailTook a long steady pull at her aleThen with foamy mustacheShe proceeded to slashThrough guitar riffs…
2025
Night in Arizona by Sara Teasdale
"Night in Arizona" by Sara Teasdale The moon is a chiseled snowflake, It floats in a sky of pink, The desert is a hushed whisper, A breath of stars, I think. Cacti stand in shadow…
2025
Desert Rain by John Gould Fletcher
"Desert Rain" by John Gould Fletcher Across the burnished mesas They march in lines of jade, The thunder-heads assembled To crush the light parade. The shadow of their wingspread…
2025
The Song of the Sonoran Desert by Sharlot Madbirdth Hall
"The Song of the Sonoran Desert" by Sharlot Madbirdth Hall Sharlot Madbirdth Hall captures the essence of the desert in her work, bringing to life its beauty and mystery. Oh, land…
2025
Satellite TV Sports by Nick Fox
"Satellite TV Sports" by Nick Fox you're listening to the voice of NickFox the Total Sports poet in five fourthree fabulous new diet I lost 500 lbact now and you can for the one o…
2025
Free Admission by Cylie Naylor
"Free Admission" by Cylie Naylor the welcome sign to the gallery of myheart reads free admission open everyday of the year and everything here hassome history and there's plenty t…
2025
Bob Dylan's Love and Theft by Dom Flemons
"Bob Dylan's 'Love and Theft' by Dom Flemons well you've heard a lot of stories I'm going to tell you one love and theft it was the 10th of September 2001 and I went to bed knowin…
2025
A Human Heart by Austin Davis
"A Human Heart" by Austin Davis I’m missing you,so obviously, this cloudlooks like a heart. Not the corporate, greetingcard, capitalist kind of heart,all cartoonish and fake, or t…
2025
"History of the Cosmos" by Lauren Deja
When you turned your head, my heart tapped my head.It said.RUN.I don't know where this one is from.He's gonna render you dumb.Your lungs will become numb.Paralyzed in his eyes.His…
2025
"tombstones make macabre lawn ornaments, coffins are the worst kind of patio furniture" by Bill Campana
"tombstones make macabre lawn ornaments, coffins are the worst kind of patio furniture" i saw my parents’ grave markertwice...at saint ann’s on oak street. once at my mother’s fun…
2025
"Love, Bacall" by Lauren Perry
Love Bacall by Lauren Perry It had to be you that threw me the matches Bogie, Each musky growl of my voice,You couldn’t resist answering my question with a flick of your wrist and…
2025
'Stand Your Concession' by Shawnte Orion
Stand Your Concession Please remember to switchall handguns to silent before shootingimpolite moviegoers for textingduring the film About the poet Shawnte Orion Shawnte Orion’s po…
2024
"Chircahuas Sold A Barrel at the Gates" by Logan Phillips
Chircahuas Sold A Barrel at the Gates Presidio of Tucson, May 1856 Late sun; sweatpulled from the poresby the giant sweat-eating sky.Slowly drying upthere, spirits and steel. Unde…
2024
December Morning In The Desert by Alberto Rios
The morning is clouded and the birds are hunched,More cold than hungry, more numb than loud, This crisp, Arizona shore, where desert meetsThe coming edge of the winter world. It i…
2024
“Tyin’ Knots in the Devils Tail” by Gail Gardner
Away up high in the Sierry Petes where the yeller Jack Pine grows tallOl’ Sandy Bob and Buster Jig had a rodeer camp last fall. Oh, They’d taken their hosses and their runnin’ iro…
2024
"Recipe For Greatness" by Zane Grey
To bear up under loss; To fight the bitterness of defeat and the weakness of grief; To be victor over anger; To smile when tears are close; To resist disease and evil men and base…
2024
"Goldfish" by Beth May
grandma and I are caught in Loops hiit's B I'm good how are you I live inLos Angeles and I love it traffic's badbut it gives me time to think my nameit's Beth I live in LA and it'…
2024
"Thanksgiving Prayer" by William S. Burroughs
thanksgiving day november 28th, 1986 thanks for the wild turkey and passenger pigeonsdestined to be [ ] out through wholesome american guts thanks for a comment to despoil and poi…
2024
"They Don't Love You Like I Love You" by Natalie Diaz
they don't love you like i love youmy mother said this to me long beforebeyonce lifted the lyrics from the yeah yeah yeahswhat my mother meant by don't straywas that she knew all…
2024
"A House Called Tomorrow" by Alberto Rios
a house called tomorrow you are not 15or 12 or 17 you are a hundred wildcenturies and 15 bringing with you inevery breath and in every step everyonewho has come before you all the…
2024
"A Cowboy's Prayer" by Badger Clark
A Cowboy's Prayer (Written for Mother) Oh Lord, I've never lived where churches grow.I love creation better as it stoodThat day You finished it so long agoAnd looked upon Your wor…
2024
"Here's What You Do" by Mikel Weisser
Here’s what you do:You take every chance to make itNever say no to anythingIf you want itTake the minute to take that every effort‘cause chances not only comeBut they goHere’s whe…
2024
"Elected" by Alice Cooper
I'm your top prime cut of meat, I'm your choiceI wanna be electedI'm your yankee doodle dandy in a gold Rolls RoyceI wanna be electedKids want a savior, don't need a fakeI wanna b…
2024
"Hip-Hop Republican" by The Klute
This poem was a spoken word poem, often performed in poetry slams locally, and nationally by The Klute, and various other members of the Arizona poetry community, sometimes with t…
2024
"Fancy Mac and Cheese" by Kevin Flanagan
My mother used to cook for meWhich bears comment, these daysDinner was a regimental affairthroughout my teen years. Spaghetti,jarred sauce,garlic breadand bagged salad. Beef tacos…
2024
"Letter To Summer" by Valence
I send letters and Bottles across bodiesof water or folded up and flown over thePeaks addressed to the summer summer isa star-eyed space cadet called meStardust in the making I wr…
2024
"Love You Some Indians" by Roanna Shebala
"Hide like you are ashamed of pigment.Everyone in Cleveland loves the Indians!Like it separated you fromEveryone loves them some Indians!the norm. Love you some Indians.Tan that h…
2024
"Mexicans Are Such Hard Workers" by Anna Flores
I overhear my porcelain teachers clink their teeth together like a toastin celebration of their tongues,proud to be so kind. My father borrows a name so he can feed us. I dream ab…
2024
"Green Chile" by Jimmy Santiago Baca
I prefer red chile over my eggsand potatoes for breakfast.Red chile ristras decorate my door,dry on my roof, and hang from eaves.They lend open-air vegetable standshistorical gran…
2024
The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe
"The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,While I nodded, nearly napping…
2024
"Outside" by Thomas Cooper
Welcome to Outside.Press START to begin.Good luck! You zone into Des Plaines, Illinois; early 2000s.The poplars rise from green plots in front of boxy houses.You watch the other p…
2024
"The Giant Cactus of Arizona" by Harriet Monroe
The cactus in the desert stands Like time’s inviolate sentinel, Watching the sun-washed waste of sands Lest they their ancient secrets tell. And the lost lore of mournful lands It…
2024
"Arizona" by James William Foley
Arizona Here's to the land of the rock and the cactus, The sun and the sand and the sky, Where the weather is hot and the tourists are flocking, And the cowboys are riding high. H…
2024
"Deserted" by John Charles Van Dyke
Deserted Deserted are the canyons, And the mesas wide and bare, The rivers run in silence, Through the lands that none may share. The peaks are wrapped in shadows, And the winds t…
2024
"In the Arizona Desert" by C.S. Wortley
In the Arizona Desert In the Arizona desert, Where the sun is fierce and high, Where the purple shadows gather Underneath the cloudless sky; There the silent mountains beckon, And…