Poem archive

Poems

Read poems by Arizona and Southwestern writers, plus classic work preserved in the AZPoetry literary archive.

Search by poem title, poet, or a phrase you remember. Each archive page is designed to lead readers toward more poets and related work.

Hyperrealistic fine-art painting inspired by WITH WILL THERE WAS ALWAYS A WAY by Michael C. Ford.

2026

WITH WILL THERE WAS ALWAYS A WAY

By Michael C. Ford

“WITH WILL THERE WAS ALWAYS A WAY” by Michael C. Ford is a poem centered on place and geography, memory, love and relationships. Its imagery is anchored in California. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.

Hyperrealistic fine-art painting inspired by I'm Going Through by Jimmie Ware.

2026

I'm Going Through

By Jimmie Ware

“I'm Going Through” by Jimmie Ware is a poem centered on love and relationships, family, identity. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.

Hyperrealistic fine-art painting inspired by 50 Deep Breaths by Jimmie Ware.

2026

50 Deep Breaths

By Jimmie Ware

“50 Deep Breaths” by Jimmie Ware is a poem centered on memory, love and relationships, family. Its imagery is anchored in Arctic Ocean. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.

Hyperrealistic fine-art painting inspired by Time by Jimmie Ware.

2026

Time

By Jimmie Ware

“Time” by Jimmie Ware is a poem centered on love and relationships, family, nature. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.

Hyperrealistic fine-art painting inspired by Uptown World by Jimmie Ware.

2026

Uptown World

By Jimmie Ware

“Uptown World” by Jimmie Ware is a poem centered on place and geography, love and relationships, family. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.

Hyperrealistic fine-art painting inspired by Gentle Reminders by Jimmie Ware.

2026

Gentle Reminders

By Jimmie Ware

“Gentle Reminders” by Jimmie Ware is a poem centered on arizona, family, identity. Its imagery is anchored in Phoenix. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.

Hyperrealistic fine-art painting inspired by Yesterday Emotions by Jimmie Ware.

2026

Yesterday Emotions

By Jimmie Ware

“Yesterday Emotions” by Jimmie Ware is a poem centered on place and geography, memory, nature. Its imagery is anchored in Chicago. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.

Hyperrealistic fine-art painting inspired by Untitled (“Some days I need to be baptized by the beat”) by Jimmie Ware.

2026

Untitled (“Some days I need to be baptized by the beat”)

By Jimmie Ware

“Untitled (“Some days I need to be baptized by the beat”)” by Jimmie Ware is a poem centered on love and relationships, music, identity. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.

Hyperrealistic fine-art painting inspired by Divided States of OZ by Jimmie Ware.

2026

Divided States of OZ

By Jimmie Ware

“Divided States of OZ” by Jimmie Ware is a poem centered on social justice, nature, travel and movement. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.

Hyperrealistic fine-art painting inspired by Reigning Men by Jimmie Ware.

2026

Reigning Men

By Jimmie Ware

“Reigning Men” by Jimmie Ware is a poem centered on place and geography, love and relationships, social justice. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.

Hyperrealistic fine-art painting inspired by In this Surreal Moment by Jimmie Ware.

2026

In this Surreal Moment

By Jimmie Ware

“In this Surreal Moment” by Jimmie Ware is a poem centered on love and relationships, family, music. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.

Hyperrealistic fine-art painting inspired by UPTOWN by Jimmie Ware.

2026

UPTOWN

By Jimmie Ware

“UPTOWN” by Jimmie Ware is a poem centered on place and geography, memory, love and relationships. Its imagery is anchored in Chicago, Uptown Chicago. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.

Hyperrealistic fine-art painting inspired by Poems 4 Prince by Jimmie Ware.

2026

Poems 4 Prince

By Jimmie Ware

“Poems 4 Prince” by Jimmie Ware is a poem centered on memory, love and relationships, music. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.

Hyperrealistic fine-art painting inspired by Prince Matters by Jimmie Ware.

2026

Prince Matters

By Jimmie Ware

“Prince Matters” by Jimmie Ware is a poem centered on love and relationships, music, travel and movement. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.

Hyperrealistic fine-art painting inspired by IJS by Jimmie Ware.

2026

IJS

By Jimmie Ware

“IJS” by Jimmie Ware is a poem centered on place and geography, memory, love and relationships. Its imagery is anchored in Alaska, Lake Michigan. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.

Hyperrealistic fine-art painting inspired by Face Book by Jimmie Ware.

2026

Face Book

By Jimmie Ware

“Face Book” by Jimmie Ware is a poem centered on social justice, travel and movement. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.

Hyperrealistic fine-art painting inspired by Prophets in Paradise by Jimmie Ware.

2026

Prophets in Paradise

By Jimmie Ware

“Prophets in Paradise” by Jimmie Ware is a poem centered on memory, love and relationships, music. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.

Hyperrealistic fine-art painting inspired by Blue Dream by Jimmie Ware.

2026

Blue Dream

By Jimmie Ware

“Blue Dream” by Jimmie Ware is a poem centered on memory, music, aging. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.

Hyperrealistic fine-art painting inspired by Kitchen Conversations by Jimmie Ware.

2026

Kitchen Conversations

By Jimmie Ware

“Kitchen Conversations” by Jimmie Ware is a poem centered on memory, love and relationships, family. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.

Hyperrealistic fine-art painting inspired by I'm Down by Jimmie Ware.

2026

I'm Down

By Jimmie Ware

“I'm Down” by Jimmie Ware is a poem centered on love and relationships, family, music. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.

Hyperrealistic fine-art painting inspired by Wonder of Woman by Jimmie Ware.

2026

Wonder of Woman

By Jimmie Ware

“Wonder of Woman” by Jimmie Ware is a poem centered on love and relationships, family, identity. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.

Hyperrealistic fine-art painting inspired by Gratitude, For My Griots by Jimmie Ware.

2026

Gratitude, For My Griots

By Jimmie Ware

“Gratitude, For My Griots” by Jimmie Ware is a poem centered on love and relationships, social justice, aging. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.

Hyperrealistic fine-art painting inspired by Bad Habit by Aaron Hopkins-Johnson.

2026

Bad Habit

By Aaron Hopkins-Johnson

“Bad Habit” by Aaron Hopkins-Johnson is a poem centered on contemporary life, human experience. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.

Hyperrealistic fine-art painting inspired by THE ROCKIES ARE NOT THE ONLY THINGS THAT END IN EL PASO by Michael C. Ford.

2026

THE ROCKIES ARE NOT THE ONLY THINGS THAT END IN EL PASO

By Michael C. Ford

“THE ROCKIES ARE NOT THE ONLY THINGS THAT END IN EL PASO” by Michael C. Ford is a poem centered on place and geography, memory, love and relationships. Its imagery is anchored in El Paso, Mexico. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.

Alas Poor Yorick poem by The Klute featuring hyperrealistic jester at ren fair | AZpoetry.com

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…

Ain't I An American by Jeremiah Blue Poem AZpoetry.com

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…

Sonnet 18 William Shakespeare poem AZpoetry.com

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…

The Tiger by William Blake poem on AZpoetry.com

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…

On His Blindness Sonnet 19 by John Milton baroque AZpoetry.com

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…

Green Chile poem by Jimmy Santiago Baca | AZPoetry.com

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…

The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe AZpoetry.com

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…