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Poetry Challenge: Honor MLK By Describing How You Dream A World

Martin Luther King Jr. addresses the crowd at the March On Washington D.C., on Aug. 28, 1963. CNP/Getty Images hide caption

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CNP/Getty Images

Culture

Poetry Challenge: Honor MLK By Describing How You Dream A World

As we celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, Morning Edition asks for you to write a poem that starts with the words "I dream a world."

Poetry Challenge: Honor MLK By Describing How You Dream A World

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Opinion: 'Twas The Night Before Christmas in 2020

With countless lights, Christmassy illuminated man-high trees and reindeer decorate the entrance of a shop dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images hide caption

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dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images

Opinion

Simon Says

Opinion: 'Twas The Night Before Christmas in 2020

With apologies to Clement Clarke Moore, NPR's Scott Simon updates "A Visit from St. Nicholas" for 2020.

Opinion: 'Twas The Night Before Christmas in 2020

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'Running For Your Life': A Community Poem For Ahmaud Arbery

People react during a rally to protest the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Ga. John Bazemore/AP hide caption

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John Bazemore/AP

America Reckons With Racial Injustice

'Running For Your Life': A Community Poem For Ahmaud Arbery

For this latest community poem, NPR poet-in-residence Kwame Alexander sifted through more than 1,000 submissions reacting to the killing of Ahmaud Abrery and created a poem that speaks with one voice.

'Running For Your Life': A Community Poem For Ahmaud Arbery

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Poetry Callout: Write A Poem For Ahmaud Arbery
Katherine Du/NPR

America Reckons With Racial Injustice

Poetry Callout: Write A Poem For Ahmaud Arbery

Morning Edition is asking for poems reacting to the death of Ahmaud Arbery, a black man shot and killed while jogging in Glynn County, Ga. Create one based on how you feel in this moment.

Poetry Callout: Write A Poem For Ahmaud Arbery

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Share Your Poems Of Hurting And Healing
Katherine Du/NPR

Culture

Share Your Poems Of Hurting And Healing

How can grief become an instrument of comfort? Morning Edition wants to hear from those whose lives have been affected by COVID-19 — in the form of a poem.

Share Your Poems Of Hurting And Healing

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'Social Distance': A Community-Style Poem To Help You Feel Less Isolated

NPR asked our audience to find inspiration in — and then write an ekphrastic poem about — two paintings: Heat Wave by Kadir Nelson (left) and Young Woman At A Window by Salvador Dali. Kadir Nelson and Salvador Dali hide caption

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Kadir Nelson and Salvador Dali

Culture

'Social Distance': A Community-Style Poem To Help You Feel Less Isolated

Last month, poet Kwame Alexander asked you to write a poem inspired by two paintings of women looking out of a window. Many of you found a way to express life during the coronavirus pandemic.

'Social Distance': A Community-Style Poem To Help You Feel Less Isolated

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Let's Play Ball! Share Your Sports-Inspired Poems
LA Johnson/NPR

Culture

Let's Play Ball! Share Your Sports-Inspired Poems

NPR's Rachel Martin and poet-in-residence Kwame Alexander want to read your poems about sports. You can use sport as a metaphor for our lives — or simply write about the game or team you love.

Let's Play Ball! Share Your Sports-Inspired Poems

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'Felon' Author Says, 'Everybody Has To Tell Their Kids Something'

Felon: Poems, by Reginald Dwayne Betts W.W.Norton & Co. hide caption

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W.W.Norton & Co.

Author Interviews

'Felon' Author Says, 'Everybody Has To Tell Their Kids Something'

Lawyer-poet Reginald Dwayne Betts for years hid the fact that he had served time in prison. Now, this time in his life is at the center of his new collection of poems.

'Felon' Author Says, 'Everybody Has To Tell Their Kids Something'

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'Where I'm From': A Crowdsourced Poem That Collects Your Memories Of Home
TonBoon/Getty Images

Culture

'Where I'm From': A Crowdsourced Poem That Collects Your Memories Of Home

Morning Edition's resident poet Kwame Alexander compiled your poems inspired by memories of home, and the final crowdsourced poem is full of rich details of where you're from.

'Where I'm From': A Crowdsourced Poem That Collects Your Memories Of Home

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Memories Of Home: Share Yours As A Poem
Katherine Du/NPR

Culture

Memories Of Home: Share Yours As A Poem

NPR's Morning Edition wants to hear about the people or places you come from. Drawing on all five senses, craft a poem about your home, using memories and your own words.

Memories Of Home: Share Yours As A Poem

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Summer Memories: Share Yours As A Haiku
Katherine Du/NPR

Culture

Summer Memories: Share Yours As A Haiku

Poet Kwame Alexander are asking for haiku — that don't include the word "summer" — for an upcoming story. Write a poem inspired by your favorite summertime memories in just three lines.

Summer Memories: Share Yours As A Haiku

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A Bouquet Of Poets For National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month. From left to right, poets: Kaveh Akbar, Fatimah Asghar, Ada Limon, Hieu Minh Nguyen and Ashley M. Jones. LA Johnson/NPR hide caption

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LA Johnson/NPR

Review

Code Switch

A Bouquet Of Poets For National Poetry Month

Looks like this year, April showers brought April flowers. As in, a bouquet of outstanding poets. So stop and smell the roses, my friends.

A Bouquet Of Poets For National Poetry Month

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'Thank You, America': A Crowdsourced Holiday Poem That's A Blessing To Read
Vicuschka/Getty Images

Culture

'Thank You, America': A Crowdsourced Holiday Poem That's A Blessing To Read

NPR recently wanted to know: What about America are you most thankful for? Our audience answered, and writer Kwame Alexander crafted an epic poem of celebration and gratitude from the replies.

'Thank You, America': A Crowdsourced Holiday Poem That's A Blessing To Read

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A Trauma Nurse Reflects On 'Compassion Fatigue'
Chris Nickels for NPR

Shots - Health News

A Trauma Nurse Reflects On 'Compassion Fatigue'

Years of treating grievously injured people starts to wear on a person, a trauma nurse in Minneapolis says. She explores "compassion fatigue" in a semi-autobiographical poem.

Listen to Kristin Laurel read her poem

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