The Daily Poem

Happy New Year (and Happy Reading) from The Daily Poem!Born in Amherst, Massachusetts, to academic Calvinist parents, poet, author, and Native American rights activist Helen Hunt Jackson (born Helen Maria Fiske) was orphaned as a child and raised by her aunt. Jackson was sent to private schools and formed a lasting childhood friendship with Emily Dickinson. At the age of 21, Jackson married Lieutenant Edward Bissell Hunt and together they had two sons. Jackson began writing poetry only after the early deaths of her husband and both sons.Jackson published five collections of poetry, including Verses (1870) and Easter Bells (1884), as well as children’s literature and travel books, often using the pseudonyms “H.H.,” “Rip van Winkle,” or “Saxe Holm.” Frequently in poor health, she moved to Colorado on her physician’s recommendation and married William Sharpless Jackson there in 1875.Moved by an 1879 speech given by Chief Standing Bear, Jackson wrote A Century of Dishonor (1881), an exposé of the rampant crimes against Native Americans, which led to the founding of the Indian Rights Association. In 1884 she published Ramona, a fictionalized account of the plight of Southern California’s dispossessed Mission Indians, inspired by Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin.Jackson was inducted into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame in 1985.-bio via Poetry Foundation This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dailypoempod.substack.com/subscribe

…I had seen birth and death, But had thought they were different; this Birth was Hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death.Today’s poem seemed an appropriate choice as we endure the death of one year and the pregnant anticipation of another. Happy reading! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dailypoempod.substack.com/subscribe

The repetition of the word “unsatisfied” forms a set of bookends in today’s poem. Inside those bookends: earth, sky, and the riches of this world. Beyond them: “The uncontrollable mystery.” Happy reading. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dailypoempod.substack.com/subscribe

Dive into the enchanting world of Cecil Day-Lewis' 'The Christmas Tree.' The poem is beautifully read, showcasing its rich themes and vivid imagery. Discover the contrasting warmth of the tree against the winter's chill. The discussion highlights metaphysical ideas of peace and the cyclical essence of Christmas, reminding listeners of the emotional journey tied to this festive symbol. Perfect for reflecting on the holiday spirit, this exploration is sure to resonate with hearts both young and old.

Dive into the bittersweet conclusion of Christmas as Mary and Joseph flee to Egypt, revealing the tension between joy and everyday realities. Explore the fleeting nature of holiday joy, tangled with themes of nostalgia and guilt. Reflect on the challenges of maintaining faith when confronted with life's harsh truths. Auden's poignant insights illuminate the complex emotions we navigate during the holiday season.

Christ is born! Merry Christmas and happy reading! Today’s poem is a selection from Auden’s superb long poem, For the Time Being: A Christmas Oratorio. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dailypoempod.substack.com/subscribe

J. R. R. Tolkien loved Christmas–we can find ample proof of this in his Letters From Father Christmas, but also in his choosing December 25 as the day the fellowship of the Ring should set out from Rivendell and begin the destruction of evil in Middle Earth. Today’s poem, once lost to history but rediscovered and included in his Collected Poems, is his most explicit tribute to the Nativity. Happy reading. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dailypoempod.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s selection may not be traditionally recognized as a holiday poem, but it interprets the Christmas mystery as well or better than many poems written for the season. Happy reading! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dailypoempod.substack.com/subscribe

Dive into the enchanting world of G.K. Chesterton’s Christmas poetry. Discover how he portrays Christmas as a sacred pilgrimage for weary souls seeking warmth and belonging. Through vivid imagery, the poems evoke a sense of cosmic wonder, transforming familiar festivities into a profound journey. Experience the true essence of the holiday spirit amidst the chill of winter.

Delve into the depths of Donald Hall's poem as it explores themes of melancholy and fleeting hope during the Christmas season. The characters grapple with materialism and regret while facing their confining circumstances. Discover how the arrival of Christmas Day brings a hint of redemption amidst somber reflections. It's a modern twist on the classic holiday tale, capturing the complexities of human emotion and the spirit of the season.