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Poem-a-Day

The only daily poetry series publishing new work by today’s poets.

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Poem-a-day

[ ]

—after Frank O’Hara and Katy Porter

Dear, I wished you heavens.
If not heavens, earths.
And if a little hell, I prayed the tears
I hid as wet, incandescent smiles
were an ocean on brimstone.
You are one of one.
I never said: Good morning, my heart
but I was the indigo in your hair.
I was keeping time when you danced.
I was stillness and tremor,
break and breach, 
your pen and your cane.
No, I never said: I’m in love with you. 
I said: I dreamed of a child
with your eyes, with your hands.
You are one of one. 
The unrenounceable.
Do not fear death.
You’ll be beautiful 
in the grave.
You’ll be beautiful 
in the Judgment line,
the sun recounting sins 
against our siblings for eons. 
And the shadow I cast
standing outside your garden
will be our cover. 
Dear, I was never lonely. 
I was never cold. 
I was wreathing our canopy.
Some day you’ll love Ladan Osman.
After the hours. After all light.

Copyright © 2026 by Ladan Osman. Originally published in Poem-a-Day on February 23, 2026, by the Academy of American Poets. 

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Ladan Osman

Ladan Osman
Photo credit: Beowulf Sheehan
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About Poem-a-Day

Poem-a-Day is the original and only daily digital poetry series featuring over 250 new, previously unpublished poems by today’s talented poets each year. Chris Abani is the Guest Editor for February. Read or listen to a Q&A with Abani about his curatorial process, and learn more about the 2025 Guest Editors. Support Poem-a-Day.  

If you have any questions about Poem-a-Day, visit our Poem-a-Day FAQ.

Previous Poems

Title Author Date
Dear Melissa [who has never been holy] TC Tolbert
little prayer Danez Smith
once a marine biologist told me octopuses have three hearts Denice Frohman
The Song of Rain Ameen Rihani
Untitled [Back they sputter] Eamon Grennan
Old South Meeting House January Gill O’Neil
Selling Willis Barnstone
Again, She Tells the First Story Barbara Jane Reyes
I Am a Cowboy in the Boat of Ra Ishmael Reed
Impression Du Matin Oscar Wilde

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