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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Poem-a-Day is the original and only daily digital poetry series featuring over 250 new, previously unpublished poems by today’s talented poets each year.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
The blessed angels Toi Derricotte 10/08/2018
The Difference Thomas Hardy 10/07/2018
The Factories Margaret Widdemer 10/06/2018
When We Were Fearsome Joanna Penn Cooper 10/05/2018
El Rastro Orlando Ricardo Menes 10/04/2018
One Sweet Braid Down She Back Cheryl Boyce-Taylor 10/03/2018
Out of the Woods Krista Franklin 10/02/2018
Unmarked Tim Seibles 10/01/2018
A September Night George Marion McClellan 09/30/2018
The Past Is the Present Marianne Moore 09/29/2018

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