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
FAILURE TO LEAVE PHOENIX IN ORDER TO SAVE MY LIFE IN THE SUMMER OF 1968
“FAILURE TO LEAVE PHOENIX IN ORDER TO SAVE MY LIFE IN THE SUMMER OF 1968” by Michael C. Ford is a poem centered on arizona, place and geography, memory. Its imagery is anchored in Arizona, Tucson. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.
2026
INTRUSION IN SUISUN
“INTRUSION IN SUISUN” by Michael C. Ford is a poem centered on place and geography, mortality and loss, social justice. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.
2026
GROUNDING OUT IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
“GROUNDING OUT IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA” by Michael C. Ford is a poem centered on place and geography, memory, family. Its imagery is anchored in Pasadena, California. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.
2026
GREYHOUND
“GREYHOUND” by Michael C. Ford is a poem centered on place and geography, love and relationships, social justice. Its imagery is anchored in California, Glendale, California. 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 Going Through
“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.
2026
50 Deep Breaths
“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.
2026
Time
“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.
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
Yesterday Emotions
“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.
2026
Divided States of OZ
“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.
2026
Reigning Men
“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.
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
IJS
“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.
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
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
Gratitude, For My Griots
“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.
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
Chameleon
“Chameleon” by Aaron Hopkins-Johnson is a poem centered on identity, aging, nature. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.
2026
Punctuated Lips
“Punctuated Lips” by Aaron Hopkins-Johnson is a poem centered on love and relationships, mortality and loss, aging. 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
Life Boat
“Life Boat” by Aaron Hopkins-Johnson is a poem centered on family, mortality and loss, social justice. 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
A FEW BARS ON A BAR-ROOM PIANO
“A FEW BARS ON A BAR-ROOM PIANO” by Michael C. Ford is a poem centered on place and geography, love and relationships, family. Its imagery is anchored in Los Angeles, California. 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 REFUSES TO BE CALLED DUSK
“A POEM THAT REFUSES TO BE CALLED DUSK” by Michael C. Ford is a poem centered on place and geography, identity, nature. Its imagery is anchored in San Diego, California. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.
2026
IT’S ONLY A DREAM…………………RIGHT?
“IT’S ONLY A DREAM…………………RIGHT?” by Michael C. Ford is a poem centered on nature, travel and movement. Its imagery is anchored in 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
INNER BLUES ON THE OUTER DRIVE
“INNER BLUES ON THE OUTER DRIVE” by Michael C. Ford is a poem centered on place and geography, memory, family. Its imagery is anchored in Chicago, California. The poem develops its subject through recurring images and shifts in emotional pressure rather than reducing the experience to a single statement.
2026
SUNRISE HIGHWAY
“SUNRISE HIGHWAY” by Michael C. Ford is a poem centered on place and geography, love and relationships, nature. 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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
'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
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
"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'…