👉 This website is currently under construction as Stanza & Story transitions from GoodPoetry. New pages and features are being added.
Classic poems to read, hear, and revisit.
About the Poetry Archive
The poetry section of Stanza & Story gathers classic poems from many writers and time periods, with an emphasis on works that can be read, shared, and taught freely. Most of the poems here are in the public domain. Many are paired with brief background notes and, where available, audio or video readings.
Featured Poems
On Being Brought from Africa to America – Phillis Wheatley
A compact, much-discussed poem from an early Black writer in colonial Boston. Presented with context so you can consider its tensions and language for yourself.
The Gift to Sing – James Weldon Johnson
A short, hopeful poem about turning difficulty into song and strength.
It Couldn’t Be Done – Edgar A. Guest
A straightforward, encouraging poem about doing the work anyway when people say it can’t be done.
All Poems
Browse by Category
You can also explore the poetry archive by category. These links will grow as more poems are added.
How to Use This Page
A few ways to use the poetry archive:
- Browse freely. Scroll through the full list of poems and click on whatever catches your attention.
- Start with the featured poems. These are good entry points if you’re new to a particular writer or era.
- Listen while you read. Where audio or video is available, use it to hear how the poem sounds aloud.
- Teach from it. Use the poems, notes, and questions in classrooms, tutoring sessions, homeschools, or reading groups.
- Return to favorites. Bookmark the pieces that speak to you and revisit them over time.
About Copyright and Public Domain
Most of the poems featured on Stanza & Story are in the public domain and can be read, shared, and taught freely. In cases where a work is not in the public domain, it will be quoted briefly and discussed rather than reproduced in full. If you have questions about a specific poem, please use the Contact page to get in touch.
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