Sunday Recap & War is a Defeat by Maggie Devers

Sunday Recap & War is a Defeat by Maggie Devers

Author: Maggie Devers July 27, 2025 Duration: 9:53

Here’s your recap of this week’s poems plus one new poem to carry us into the week ahead.

Jul 21 - Jawbone, Ribcage by Emily Holman @maximumsparrow on Instagram. Her chapbook Dreamscapes of the Metaphysical is published through 318 Journal.

Jul 22 - Morning Song of the Bees by Louisa May Alcott

Jul 23 - Wednesday Double Feature Reckoning by Anna Goodman Herrick @annagoodmanherrick on Instagram. Her book A Speaker Is a Wilderness is out now.

Jul 24 - Full and Free by Maggie Devers. Read my debut poetry book, For My Daughter. Follow me on Instagram for more poetry @rembrandts.cure.

Jul 25 - It's Not Too Late by Travis Hupp @poetryoftravishupp on Instagram. His book American Entropy is out now through Atmosphere Press.

Jul 26 - No Apologies by Michelle Vivier @michellespeakspoetry on Instagram.

June 27 -

War is a Defeat

Maggie Devers

After Audre Lorde

When you realize the fake news is the whole system we’re stitched up in like a Met Gala dress
Or a straight jacket,
You pick.

Who gave the bombs,
Those party favors for regional stability,
For a war we believe is not here?
We would never be as barbaric as those others half a world away.
Active shooter drills are a sign of a healthy society that values children,
That values life,
That wants every person, everywhere to be free.

The mirror shows us what we can’t bear to see so we break it.
And tell them to make it again,
And get it right for once, for Christ’s sake.

More from Maggie Devers ↓


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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