Poem-a-Day is reader-supported. Your gift today will help the Academy of American Poets continue to publish the work of 260 poets each year, and share this series with 300,000 readers every day.

July 25, 2021

Earth Evanescent

Maxwell Anderson

If other planets dark as earth
About dim trembling stars
Carry frail freight of death and birth,
Wild love, and endless wars;

If from far, unseen motes in flight
Life look down questioning
This helpless passage through the night
Is a less lonely thing:

But if unchained through empty space
Drift only shell and fire
What seeks the beauty of this face,
What end has its desire?

A candle in a night of storms,
Blown back and choked with rain,
Holds longer than the mounting forms
That ride time’s hurricane.

This poem is in the public domain. Published in Poem-a-Day on July 25, 2021, by the Academy of American Poets.

Subscribe to the Poem-a-Day Podcast

“Earth Evanescent” appeared in You Who Have Dreams (Simon & Schuster, 1925).

Maxwell Anderson was born on December 15, 1888, in Atlantic, Pennsylvania. The recipient of a Pulitzer Prize for his play, Both Your Houses, and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Winterset and High Tor, Anderson founded the Playwrights’ Producing Company in 1938. He died in Stamford, Connecticut, in 1959.

You Who Have Dreams
(Simon & Schuster, 1925)

“What an Indian Thought When He Saw the Comet” by Tso-le-oh-woh
read more

“Orion Dead” by H. D.
read more

Thanks to R. Erica Doyle, author of proxy (Belladonna Books, 2013), who curated Poem-a-Day for this month’s weekdays. Watch a Q&A about Doyle’s curatorial approach and find out more about our guest editors for the year.

This free, daily series is made possible by our readers. If you’re able, please consider donating to support this work.

Become a monthly sustainer
join

Make a one-time gift
donate

Copyright © 2021 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.

"Memory" by George Moses Horton

Saturday, July 24, 2021

Sweet memory, like a pleasing dream, Poem-a-Day is reader-supported. Your gift today will help the Academy of American Poets continue to publish the work of 260 poets each year, and share this series

"Resist" by Brandy Nālani McDougall

Friday, July 23, 2021

Stand in rage as wind and current clash Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day July 23, 2021 Resist Brandy Nālani McDougall Qawem ya sha'abi, qawemhum. Resist my people, resist them. —Dareen

"Iyáaní (Spirit, Breath, Life)" by Sara Marie Ortiz

Thursday, July 22, 2021

At Haak'u / Within the community, Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day July 22, 2021 Iyáaní (Spirit, Breath, Life) Sara Marie Ortiz At Haak'u Within the community, on the land, in it

"Professional Spanish Knocks on the Door" by Elisabet Velasquez

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

At first we don't answer. Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day July 21, 2021 Professional Spanish Knocks on the Door Elisabet Velasquez At first we don't answer. Knocks that loud

Poems by the 2021 Poets Laureate Fellows and more

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Support Poets.org July 20, 2021 2021 Poets Laureate Fellows' Poems Read a selection of poems by half of this year's Poets Laureate Fellows. These poets, along with the rest of their cohort,

"Parable" by Nickole Brown

Sunday, April 28, 2024

Let us not with one stone kill one bird, Facebook Twitter Instagram Poem-a-Day is reader-supported. In honor of National Poetry Month, please consider making a gift to help cover the costs of this

“CNN” (SHORT STORY)

Sunday, April 28, 2024

Another day another presentation for creative director Philip Morris. Philip is holed up in a luxury hotel suite, sweating the details for a major strategy presentation to the new chairman and chief

The Gorgeous Dress Trend Taking Over For Spring

Sunday, April 28, 2024

Throw on and go. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

12 Weeks to the Strongest Body of Your Life!

Sunday, April 28, 2024

Build A Better Body Today! Mens Health Shop logo Save 50%! On Sale Now! Build a stronger body This 12-week program is packed with workouts designed to help you get leaner, faster, more muscular, and

The merger self, the seeker self, and the difficult balance of intimacy and independence; attention as devotional practice; goodbye Moon

Saturday, April 27, 2024

NOTE: This newsletter might be cut short by your email program. View it in full. If a friend forwarded it to you and you'd like your very own newsletter, subscribe here — it's free. Need to

Poem-a-Day - "Earth Evanescent" by Maxwell Anderson

Earth Evanescent

Subscribe to the Poem-a-Day Podcast

Older messages

"Memory" by George Moses Horton

"Resist" by Brandy Nālani McDougall

"Iyáaní (Spirit, Breath, Life)" by Sara Marie Ortiz

"Professional Spanish Knocks on the Door" by Elisabet Velasquez

Poems by the 2021 Poets Laureate Fellows and more

You Might Also Like

"Parable" by Nickole Brown

“CNN” (SHORT STORY)

The Gorgeous Dress Trend Taking Over For Spring

12 Weeks to the Strongest Body of Your Life!

The merger self, the seeker self, and the difficult balance of intimacy and independence; attention as devotional practice; goodbye Moon

Take Up to 59% Off Popular Tech Items From Amazon’s Warehouse Sale

Only four days until Poetry & the Creative Mind

Use the 12-12-12 Method to Finally Declutter Your Home

Weekend: It’s Officially Lettuce Wrap Season 🥬

The Week in Review