Human speech is rich with rhythm. As a person speaks, certain syllables are naturally emphasized, whereas others blend into the background. In this way, regular conversation becomes poetic. Language ...

It’s been described as embarrassing, clichéd or “unhelpful singsong.” Many poets dislike it too, but it’s a style they’ve learned from each other.

Last month, we asked NPR readers what poetry means to them. We received nearly 500 responses, from lifelong poetry fans to those who have only recently come to enjoy the genre. From sparking the ...

But growing up, the 26-year-old'sview of poetry was heavily influenced by those two men, "both of whom were writers who have experiences that I didn't identify with as a working-class Salvadoran girl ...