Grapes by Frankie Reed

Grapes by Frankie Reed

Author: Maggie Devers October 1, 2025 Duration: 2:21

Grapes

Frankie Reed

we hung together —
tight, green,
not yet sweet.
small things,
skin against skin,
no space for air.

you leaned
into every breeze.
I held still.
neither of us said
what we knew
about weight.

we ripened unevenly.
you softened.
I didn’t.

the stalk grew thin
between us.
not broken —
just tired.

when I fell,
there was no sound.
just grass.
just air.
just me,
not where you were.

you stayed.
you always would have.
still facing the light
like it was enough.

if I’d stayed too,
maybe we’d have gone
quietly —
turned dark,
sank sweet
into ourselves.

but I tasted the sour
before it came.
and left
before you noticed.

More from Frankie Reed ↓


You can listen to me read another poem, titled Skin, by Frankie over on Instagram @rembrandts.cure

Mentioned in this episode:

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.

#WriteAfterOPO


Each day, One Poem Only offers a brief, deliberate pause. Hosted by Maggie Devers, this podcast is built on a simple, consistent premise: a single poem, read aloud, without analysis or introduction. It’s an audio space where the words themselves are the event, a performance meant to be absorbed in the few minutes it takes to hear it. The daily rhythm of the show creates a quiet ritual, a point of reflection woven into a busy life. You might hear a classic sonnet, a piece of modern free verse, or a work from a poet you’ve never encountered. The selection is varied, touching on themes from the natural world to the intricacies of human emotion, always leaving room for your own interpretation. The effect is cumulative; listening regularly becomes a subtle form of education in the sound and scope of poetry, and a small act of self-care. This isn't a lecture or a book club, but a performing art delivered directly to your ears. Maggie’s clear, thoughtful readings provide the only framework needed, allowing each poem to stand entirely on its own. The curtain falls, and the moment passes, but the podcast invites you to return tomorrow when a new piece takes center stage, offering another quiet moment, one poem only.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 355

One Poem Only
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