Celebrating LGBTQIA+ Pride, in June—and the rich tradition of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer poetry all year long—browse this selection of poems by classic and contemporary poets.
“One Art” by Elizabeth Bishop
The art of losing isn’t hard to master …
“Love Song for Love Songs” by Rafael Campo
A golden age of love songs and we still …
"I Invite My Parents to a Dinner Party" by Chen Chen
In the invitation, I tell them for the seventeenth time ...
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“When I Grow Up I Want to Be a List of Further Possibilities” by Chen Chen
To be a good …
“On Marriage” by Marilyn Hacker
Epithalamion? Not too long back …
“Book of Statues” by Richie Hofmann
Because I am a boy, the untouchability of beauty …
“He would not stay for me, and who can wonder” by A. E. Housman
He would not stay for me, and who can wonder …
“My Son Wants to Know Who His Biological Father Is” by Blas Falconer
My son wants to know ...
“Gay Marriage Poem” by Jenny Johnson
We could promise to elope…
“The moon rose over the bay. I had a lot of feelings.” by Donika Kelly
I am taken with the hot animal …
“Survival Guide” by Joy Ladin
No matter how old you are ...
“At a Dinner Party” by Amy Levy
With fruit and flowers the board is decked …
“The Tree Sparrows” by Joseph O. Legaspi
We suffer through blinding equatorial heat ...
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“Senior Discount” by Ali Liebegott
I want to grow old with you …
“syntax” by Maureen N. McLane
and if / I were to say // I love you and…
“Having a Coke with You” by Frank O’Hara
is even more fun than going to San Sebastian, Irún …
“The Cabbage Butterfly” by Minnie Bruce Pratt
The human brain wants to complete ...
“Diving into the Wreck” by Adrienne Rich
First having read the book of myths ...
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“The Anactoria Poem” by Sappho
Some say thronging cavalry, some say foot soldiers …
“Poem” by James Schuyler
The wind tears up the sun ...
“Detail of the Woods” by Richard Siken
I looked at all the trees and didn’t know what to do …
“Double Exposure” by May Swenson
Taking a photo of you taking a photo of me …
“We Two, How Long We Were Fool’d” by Walt Whitman
We two, how long we were fool’d ...
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