The Concise Verse

Recent Episodes

"A Jelly-Fish" by Marianne Moore
June 21, 2026

"A Jelly-Fish" by Marianne Moore

Visible, invisible, A fluctuating charm, An amber-colored amethyst Inhabits it; your arm Approaches, and It opens and It closes; You have meant To catch it, And it shrivels; You abandon Your intent— It opens, and it Closes an...
"The Net of Law" by James Jeffrey Roche
June 14, 2026

"The Net of Law" by James Jeffrey Roche

The net of law is spread so wide, No sinner from its sweep may hide. Its meshes are so fine and strong, They take in every child of wrong. O wondrous web of mystery! Big fish alone escape from thee!
"Nothing Gold Can Stay" by Robert Frost
June 7, 2026

"Nothing Gold Can Stay" by Robert Frost

Nature’s first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf’s a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay.
"Nocturne II" by Skipwith Cannéll
May 31, 2026

"Nocturne II" by Skipwith Cannéll

Thy feet are white Upon the foam of the sea; Hold me fast, thou bright Swan, Lest I stumble, And into deep waters.
"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.

Recent Blog Posts

A Fluctuating Charm: Marianne Moore's "A Jelly-Fish"
June 21, 2026

A Fluctuating Charm: Marianne Moore's "A Jelly-Fish"

First published in 1909 in the Bryn Mawr literary magazine Tipyn o’Bob, "A Jelly-Fish" is a striking early example of the signature precision that defined Marianne Moore. As a towering figure of American Modernism, Moore was celebrated for her…

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The Wondrous Web: James Jeffrey Roche's "The Net of Law"
June 14, 2026

The Wondrous Web: James Jeffrey Roche's "The Net of Law"

First published in 1889, "The Net of Law" is a sharp, satirical epigram by the Irish-American poet, journalist, and editor James Jeffrey Roche. Known for his wit, humor, and keen social observation, Roche spent years editing The Pilot in Boston, whe…

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The Fleeting Hue: Robert Frost's "Nothing Gold Can Stay"
June 7, 2026

The Fleeting Hue: Robert Frost's "Nothing Gold Can Stay"

First published in 1923 in his Pulitzer Prize-winning collection New Hampshire, "Nothing Gold Can Stay" is one of the most celebrated works by Robert Frost. Widely regarded as the pastoral voice of American poetry, Frost was a master at using the qu…

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