One Poem Only

Signs by Defne Kartal


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Signs Defne Kartal I don’t believe in signs but I doI beg for them daily, and when they arrive -A postcard, a dog, a friend, a group of musicians, a Canadian -i don’t do what I think they’re telling me towhat are signs for?I don’t believe and I don’t know, I don’t know, so I don’t believeInstead, I conjure up an image of youWalking away through the crowd,I follow youEyes closed in my bedI hold youI look in people’s windows, says the poetI always, always, always doLion-faced truth-speakerNothing to see, if I can’t find you
but can anyone prove to me please,show the signs to me, pleaseThat my world has known you,And the world as I know it, still holds youin a corner where I don’t see, there you must be(Here’s a solace: Object permanence)What did you have for dinner today and who did you talk to?You must have gotten my letterdid it break or mend somethingAnd do you - believe in signs, the way I do?ask for them find them hate them love themask for them again, againagaindo you?

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Write After: National Poetry Month with One Poem Only

Write After is a way to encourage poets to listen and write, and use National Poetry Month to highlight how listening to poetry makes us better poets. I know I write the best when I’m surrounded by beautiful poetry–it’s part of the reason I created this podcast, and I want to encourage others to share this practice.

We'll get started in April. You can share to #WriteAfterOPO.

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One Poem OnlyBy Maggie Devers