mortal perch by Amanda Thuy | One Poem Only

mortal perch by Amanda Thuy | One Poem Only

Author: Maggie Devers March 20, 2026 Duration: 1:32

One Poem Only is a daily poetry podcast offering a quiet moment with a single poem—read aloud, without analysis or noise.

mortal perch

Amanda Thuy

upon a mortal perch i scribe away my lonely parts,
pulled from deepest chasm of this broken heart.
a treasure trove of loss and tattered dreams,
befitting muse which in the dark sits agleam.

heartache wrapped in anguished words seeking sanity,
mutated from once tightly held soliloquy.
harrowing thoughts bleed from fissures of speaking heart,
seeping through veins and through fingers now depart.
all unspoken peers now into light through hope-filled ink,
seeking redemption while still consuming tear-stained drink.

loneliness of my despair shall now upon all befall,
mystic and cryptic script that quietly fades into ears of all.
one bit of comfort as wounds float upon flutter of winds,
unburdening some grief-laden poundage long kept within.

More from Amanda Thuy ↓

  1. @mezzo.strada on Instagram
  2. Her book, Between Love and Grief: Pet Loss and Healing through Poetry, is available now

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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
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