Pollen Count by Danielle Marie Cahill

Pollen Count by Danielle Marie Cahill

Author: Maggie Devers June 18, 2025 Duration: 1:49

Pollen Count

Danielle Marie Cahill

This poem first appeared in The Quarter(ly).

My computer tells me the weather
There is a high pollen count today
As if that matters deeply to someone
Imprisoned in a glass tower
At night, my daughter asks if I saw the rain
She mimics the pattering noise with her
Fingers over the mound of the duvet
I pretend I did.
The she reminds me how in February
We stuck out our tongues to feel snowflakes
Falling–so gentle and so cold
We both catch imaginary wisps for a while
I tell her that I love the rain
Tomorrow, I must go outside to feel the drops
On my face–not learn about it far too late
In the left-hand corner of my shining screen

More from Danielle Cahill ↓


You can hear me read Soft Plastic by Danielle 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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