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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

A Song [I was want]

I was want
ing the most
bare language
threaded bare
ly there a bar
on in english
everywhere I
went I langu
ished in a war
rent of a lang
uage I did or
did not want
once in ame
rica there w
as a language
we were guilt
y I spoke it y
ou were there

Copyright © 2026 by Jos Charles. Originally published in Poem-a-Day on June 25, 2026, by the Academy of American Poets. 

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Jos Charles

Jos Charles
Photo credit: Sergio de la Torre
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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Poem-a-Day is the original and only daily digital poetry series featuring over 250 new, previously unpublished poems by today’s talented poets each year. Sam Sax is the Guest Editor for June. Read or listen to a Q&A with Sax about their curatorial process, and learn more about the 2026 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
Contact Zone Imaikalani Kalahele 05/11/2022
Whānau Ngaio Simmons 05/10/2022
The Flame Tree Evelyn Flores 05/09/2022
[The city breaks in houses to the sea, uneasy with waves,] Charles Reznikoff 05/08/2022
Do/Do Not Nisha Atalie 05/07/2022
For Mauna a Wākea Jamaica Heolimeleikalani Osorio 05/06/2022
From “What kind of times are these?” Penina Ava Taesali 05/05/2022
Love in a Time of Covid-19 Craig Santos Perez 05/04/2022
Remembering Dana Naone Hall 05/03/2022
Message to My Sistah Joe Balaz 05/02/2022

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