Shownotes
One Poem Only is a daily poetry podcast offering a quiet moment with a single poem—read aloud, without analysis or noise.
You Are Poetry
Emma-Jane Barlow
I hope you know that you are poetry.
Everything you do is art
and you don't even know it.
The way your eyes glisten
and your whole face beams
with light when you're happy.
The way you sink into the sofa
and hum a little to yourself at
the end of a hard day.
The way you hold the door
open for a stranger and smile,
or the way you speak to animals
when you seem them pass by.
The way you see gift giving
as the most precious way
to know someone and
the time and care you put into it.
The way you stand under
the downpour of water
at the end of your shower,
to feel a rush of gratitude
for simply being alive.
The way you watch the steam
rise when you make a cup of tea
and wonder where it disappears to.
The way you love others with
a fierce yet gentle loyalty,
you always see the best in people,
even when they don't deserve it.
The way you push out your
tongue when you concentrate
and how your fingers dance when
you're nervous or excited.
Even when the poems don't flow,
I want you to know,
that you are poetry.
Never forget
that everything you do
and all that you are
is pure magic.
More from Emma-Jane Barlow ↓
Support + Stay Connected to OPO
If you’d like to support the show, Substack and Patreon members receive a copy of my book, For My Daughter, along with episodes from the audiobook.
Poetry slows us down. Thank you for listening.
Mentioned in this episode:
One Poem Only submissions are open.
I’m filling the next chapter of One Poem Only and would love to include your work. Send me the poem you wrote and want the world to hear. New this round: if you’d like to read your own poem on the podcast, you can. No need for a perfect studio recording—just a clear audio file recorded in a quiet space. If you choose this option, you’ll submit your poem and an audio file of you reading it. Submissions close Thursday, July 30. I’ll respond by August 12. Whether I read your poem or you read it yourself, I’d love to hear what you’re ready to share.
