The Concise Verse

Recent Episodes

"Nocturne I" by Skipwith Cannéll
May 24, 2026

"Nocturne I" by Skipwith Cannéll

Thy feet, That are like little, silver birds, Thou hast set upon pleasant ways; Therefore I will follow thee, Thou Dove of the Golden Eyes, Upon any path will I follow thee, For the light of thy beauty Shines before me like a...
"The Dying Need But Little, Dear,—" by Emily Dickinson
May 17, 2026

"The Dying Need But Little, Dear,—" by Emily Dickinson

THE dying need but little, dear,— A glass of water’s all, A flower’s unobtrusive face To punctuate the wall, A fan, perhaps, a friend’s regret, And certainly that one No color in the rainbow Perceives when you are gone.
"Streets" by Lewis Alexander
May 10, 2026

"Streets" by Lewis Alexander

Avenues of dreams Boulevards of pain Moving black streams Shimmering like rain.
"To Night" (Excerpt) by Percy Bysshe Shelley
May 3, 2026

"To Night" (Excerpt) by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Swiftly walk o'er the western wave, Spirit of Night! Out of the misty eastern cave, Where, all the long and lone daylight, Thou wovest dreams of joy and fear, Which make thee terrible and dear,— Swift be thy flight!
"For My Grandmother" by Countee Cullen
April 26, 2026

"For My Grandmother" by Countee Cullen

This lovely flower fell to seed; Work gently, sun and rain; She held it as her dying creed That she would grow again.
"A Dream Within a Dream" (Excerpt) by Edgar Allan Poe
April 19, 2026

"A Dream Within a Dream" (Excerpt) by Edgar Allan Poe

I stand amid the roar Of a surf-tormented shore, And I hold within my hand Grains of the golden sand — How few! yet how they creep Through my fingers to the deep, While I weep — while I weep! O God! Can I not grasp Them with ...

Recent Blog Posts

The Light of Beauty: Skipwith Cannéll's "Nocturne I"
May 24, 2026

The Light of Beauty: Skipwith Cannéll's "Nocturne I"

First appearing in the avant-garde literary magazine Poetry in 1913, "Nocturne I" is a hauntingly beautiful work by Skipwith Cannéll. An American poet associated with the Imagist movement, Cannéll was known for his rhythmic, almost inc…

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The Simple Departure: Emily Dickinson's "The Dying Need But Little, Dear,—"
May 17, 2026

The Simple Departure: Emily Dickinson's "The Dying Need But Little, D…

First published in 1890, years after her death, "The Dying Need But Little, Dear,—" captures the profound, quiet intimacy that Emily Dickinson is known for. As one of America’s most influential poets, Dickinson lived a famously secluded …

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Shimmering Like Rain: Lewis Alexander's "Streets"
May 10, 2026

Shimmering Like Rain: Lewis Alexander's "Streets"

A key figure of the Harlem Renaissance, Lewis Alexander was celebrated for his ability to weave the energy of the urban environment into traditional poetic forms. First published in 1926, "Streets" is a masterful example of his minimalist style. Ale…

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