January Born by JC

January Born by JC

Author: Maggie Devers January 2, 2026 Duration: 2:14

January Born

JC

I was winter’s child,
wrapped in borrowed wool,
breath small as frost on windowpanes.
The world outside was brittle then,
trees bare-boned against
a sky that never learned warmth,
roads lined with grit and quiet.
Inside, there was laughter,
steam from mugs that fogged
the kitchen glass,
a lullaby of radiators clanking
as if they too
were proud to keep me alive.
January taught me patience—
that buds sleep long before they bloom,
that light returns in rationed teaspoons,
that beginnings aren’t always bright,
but they are strong.
And so when I look back,
I see my first days threaded with cold,
yet stitched with care,
a child born not to fireworks,
but to the hush of snow,
the steady hands of a year
just learning how to start again.

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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
Podcast Episodes
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