2026
THIS TRAIN
“THIS TRAIN” by Michael C. Ford is a poem centered on music, aging, nature. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.
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.
2026
WITH WILL THERE WAS ALWAYS A WAY
“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.
2026
Uptown World
“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.
2026
Untitled (“Some days I need to be baptized by the beat”)
“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.
2026
In this Surreal Moment
“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.
2026
UPTOWN
“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.
2026
Poems 4 Prince
“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.
2026
Prince Matters
“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.
2026
Prophets in Paradise
“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.
2026
Blue Dream
“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.
2026
Kitchen Conversations
“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.
2026
I'm Down
“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.
2026
How the Lightning Sings
“How the Lightning Sings” by Aaron Hopkins-Johnson is a poem centered on arizona, place and geography, memory. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.
2026
Epiphany
“Epiphany” by Aaron Hopkins-Johnson 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.
2026
Alzheimer’s Poetry Project
“Alzheimer’s Poetry Project” by Aaron Hopkins-Johnson 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.
2026
The Things That Break While Moving
“The Things That Break While Moving” by Aaron Hopkins-Johnson is a poem centered on arizona, place and geography, love and relationships. 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.
2026
Damaged Merchandise
“Damaged Merchandise” by Aaron Hopkins-Johnson is a poem centered on place and geography, memory, music. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.
2026
Charlie Brown
“Charlie Brown” by Aaron Hopkins-Johnson is a poem centered on arizona, music, 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.
2026
When You Said I Wasn’t Perfect, You Were Right.
“When You Said I Wasn’t Perfect, You Were Right.” by Aaron Hopkins-Johnson 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.
2026
Lefty
“Lefty” by Aaron Hopkins-Johnson 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.
2026
Bananas
“Bananas” by Aaron Hopkins-Johnson is a poem centered on love and relationships, music, mortality and loss. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.
2026
A POEM THAT ASKS THE MUSICAL QUESTION: IS JACK KEROUAC REALLY DEAD IN AMERICA?
“A POEM THAT ASKS THE MUSICAL QUESTION: IS JACK KEROUAC REALLY DEAD IN AMERICA?” by Michael C. Ford is a poem centered on place and geography, family, mortality and loss. 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.
2026
BEAT
“BEAT” by Michael C. Ford is a poem centered on place and geography, music, aging. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.
2026
ANOTHER SONG
“ANOTHER SONG” by Michael C. Ford is a poem centered on place and geography, 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.
2026
I MET HANK IN 1968
“I MET HANK IN 1968” by Michael C. Ford is a poem centered on place and geography, memory, family. Its imagery is anchored in Chicago, Los Angeles. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.
2026
THE ROCKIES ARE NOT THE ONLY THINGS THAT END IN EL PASO
“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.
2026
BLACK LIGHT
“BLACK LIGHT” by Michael C. Ford is a poem centered on place and geography, music, social justice. Its imagery is anchored in San Francisco. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.
2026
BLUES BOUTS-RIMES TO BILLIE HOLIDAY
“BLUES BOUTS-RIMES TO BILLIE HOLIDAY” by Michael C. Ford is a poem centered on love and relationships, music, mortality and loss. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.
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…
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
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…
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
"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…
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
"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
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…