Poem-a-Day - "Apostrophe" by Liza Katz Duncan

Poem-a-Day is reader-supported. Make a special gift this National Poetry Month to share poems year-round and help us reach our $100,000 fundraising goal.

April 30, 2022

Apostrophe

Liza Katz Duncan

Ocean, every so often, a kitchen tile or child’s toy
rises from you, years after the hurricane’s passed.

This time, the disaster was somewhere else.
The disaster was always somewhere else, until it wasn’t.

Punctuation of the morning after: comma between red sky
and sailors’ warning; white space where a storm cloud lowers.

Where the bay breaks away, the sentence ends: a waning
crescent of peninsula, barely visible

but for the broken buildings, the ambulance lights.
Ocean, even now, even shaken, you hold the memory

of words, of worlds that failed slowly, then all at once. A
flotilla of gulls falls onto you, mourners draped in slate.

Subscribe to the Poem-a-Day Podcast

About the Treehouse Climate Action Poem Prize

Liza Katz Duncan’s “Apostrophe” is the second-place winner of the 2022 Treehouse Climate Action Poem Prize. Established in 2019 with generous support from Treehouse Investments, the prize is given to honor exceptional poems that help make real for readers the gravity of the vulnerable state of our environment at present. Beginning with the Saturday after Earth Day, Poem-a-Day will feature this year’s three winners on consecutive weekends.

“This vivid, lyrical description of the aftermath of a hurricane speaks directly to the many people on the front lines of the climate crisis. The poet’s careful images show us how the impossible has become mundane, and offer us necessary space to grieve.”
—Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali & Alexis Pauline Gumbs

“This poem came out of the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. Years later, objects lost in the storm continued to wash up on the beach. The ocean remembers, even after the news cycle has moved on.”
—Liza Katz Duncan

Liza Katz Duncan is the author of Given (Autumn House Press, 2023). An ESL teacher, she lives in New Jersey, on occupied Lenni Lenape land.

“If the ocean had a mouth” by Marie-Elizabeth Mali
read more

“Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Glacier (after Wallace Stevens)” by Craig Santos Perez
read more

Thanks to Naomi Shihab Nye, author of Cast Away: Poems for Our Time (Greenwillow Books, 2021), who curated Poem-a-Day for this month’s weekdays. Listen to a Q&A about Nye’s curatorial approach and find out more about our guest editors for the year.

Copyright © 2022 The Academy of American Poets, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.

Our mailing address is:

The Academy of American Poets

75 Maiden Lane

St #901

New York, NY 10038

Add us to your address book

View this email in your browser

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Key phrases

Liza Katz Duncan

Older messages

"Menopause" by C. Prudence Arceneaux

Friday, April 29, 2022

For further reference: I go to love Facebook Twitter Instagram Poem-a-Day is reader-supported. Make a special gift this National Poetry Month to share poems year-round and help us reach our $100000

Tonight: Poetry & the Creative Mind with Willem Dafoe, Claire Danes, Joy Harjo, and more

Thursday, April 28, 2022

"The United States of Montessori" by Clemonce Heard

Thursday, April 28, 2022

We sat Indian style, & sang our pledge Facebook Twitter Instagram Poem-a-Day is reader-supported. Make a special gift this National Poetry Month to share poems year-round and help us reach our

"For the Bird Singing before Dawn" by Kim Stafford

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Some people presume to be hopeful / when there is no evidence for hope, Facebook Twitter Instagram Poem-a-Day is reader-supported. Make a special gift this National Poetry Month to share poems year-

What poetry is bringing to the world

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Before National Poetry Month comes to end, please take a moment to make a gift to sustain this important series Dear Reader, When you read Poem-a-Day, you are not alone. At any given moment each day,

Using WhatsApp to improve your marketing & customer care

Tuesday, April 5, 2022

WhatsApp messaging for business & more in this week's content round-up ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

The Nandita Hour

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

At least… ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Crocodilian ~ Chapter 23

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Tales of Havek | Duration: 8 Minutes ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Daily Skimm: Sunny days seem to hurt the most

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

May 25, 2022 Read in browser Daily Skimm “What are we doing? Why are we here?” — Sen. Murphy (D-CT), pleading that his colleagues take action on gun control. Facebook Twitter Email Uvalde Getty Images

"By Your Hand" by Haʻåni Lucia Falo San Nicolas

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

I peer at the ridges of your palm, / rested along the crevice of mine Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day May 25, 2022 By Your Hand Haʻåni Lucia Falo San Nicolas for Deon I peer at the ridges

How to reduce your waist and live longer

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Your waistline is a key indicator of your health. Carrying too much fat around your middle not only makes your, er, tubby, but also increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Every extra

The 'Two Photo' Meeting.

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Or, how to leave BUSY. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

The Butterfly Haircut Is The Long-Haired Shag Of Your Dreams

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Plus, how reality TV stars conquered your bookshelves. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

It's Time for the Men’s Health 2022 Grooming Awards

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Featuring next-gen badass products, tested by experts. View in Browser Men's Health SHOP MVP EXCLUSIVES SUBSCRIBE It's Time for the Men's Health 2022 Grooming Awards It's Time for the

Zendaya's Unexpected Summer Nail Color Is Actually Perfect

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

You don't have to stick to neons this summer. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ TZR logo The Zoe Report 05.24.22 (Beauty) Zendaya's Unexpected Summer Nail Color Is Actually Perfect (Nails)

10 Myths You Should Stop Believing About Your Pet

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

Your furry, feathery, or fishy friend wants you to know the truth.... ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Do everything better Tuesday, May 24, 2022 Pets 10 Myths You Should Stop Believing