Les Ondines by Claire Shalhope | One Poem Only

Les Ondines by Claire Shalhope | One Poem Only

Author: Maggie Devers April 16, 2026 Duration: 1:38

A daily reading from One Poem Only—a quiet space for a single poem, read aloud.

Les Ondines

Claire Shalhope

I devote myself
into secret gardens
Where grey stone
is covered in soft ivy
that are full of whispers
of your demurral
Fleshy moss that sits
beneath my toes,
feeds my woes,
and fumbles
with our inhibitions
The scarlet rose thorns
may prick my thumb,
But you'll oblige
to taste my blood
How senseless am I
to become insouciant
As the sun's beams
golden light of my
self-condemnation
so I carve our initials into the old oak
But a Fortnight ago,
all our woven troves
and glances piercing
each of our souls.
Sweet honeysuckles grow
on twisted branches
To roam our coves
of endearment
I uncover your guise
our enthrallment denies
one another.
How delicately the water
ripples upon your waist,
Where our stillness interlaced
troeping our patience
Our dalliance shines
luminescent in the
tourmaline skies
fate delivers solace
In our honeyed oasis
As the wistful naiads tokens

More from Claire Shalhope ↓


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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: 100

One Poem Only
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