This abecedarian by Patricia Smith uses the light poetic form to explore precursors to the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina. Be sure to listen to the accompanied recording on the link below, to hear Smith discuss her method and then listen to the poem itself: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/55710/siblings

The poet Savon Bartley offers a striking performance of “Elementary,” a poem that takes the abecedarian to his own inspired territory. As you listen to this poet read his work, notice how the repeated consonants at the beginning of words (alliteration) and the use of similar sounding syllables in other words (both consonance and assonance) […]

This poem by Phillip Larkin was added to this site after reading student sestinas about furniture. One student wrote about having to move a wardrobe during a New York City heatwave. Another student wrote about the risks of working for a company making furniture. This poem by Philip Larkin is different. It’s about a home […]