Displaying 61 - 90 of 114 in total
July 10th, Wednesday | Tesla's Youth
Nikola Tesla and the writer behind the Nancy Drew series share a birthday. In today’s poem, William Blake ponders a fading rose blossom.
July 9th, Tuesday | A Gothic Enchantress & an Inventor
An enchantress of Gothic fiction and inventor of the sewing machine share a birthday. Plus, a summer poem of longing by Christina Rossetti.
July 8th, Monday | The Man who invented Coca-Cola
An injury to the stomach and addition to morphine led John Pemberton to invent Coca-Cola. Plus, a hopeful bite-sized poem by Emily Dickinson.
July 5th, Friday | Who was "de Silhouette"?
Silhouette, before it was word, was a last name! A birthday celebration for the English journalist who revolutionized the field. Poem by Longfellow.
July 4th, Thursday | The Star-Spangled Banner (poem)
Today is a national holiday in America. As such, we’re keeping it brief with a little background and a long poem. Happy 4th!
July 3rd, Wednesday | W.H. Davies & Québec City
Welsh poet W.H. Davies celebrates a birthday and so does Québec City! Today’s poem might make you say, “Oh I know this one!”
July 2nd, Tuesday | Thurgood Marshall & an Eclipse
It’s the birthday of Thurgood Marshall, first African American Supreme Court Justice. A Total Solar Eclipse in South America. Plus, a sleepy poem.
July 1st, Monday | Before Lindbergh, there was Blériot
A French aviator, American poet, and the only Olympic Medalist from Ecuador share a birthday. “The Morning Glory” starts off the new month.
June 28th, Friday | Rousseau, Peaceful Child & Turbulent Teen
Jean-Jacques Rousseau went from idyllic childhood to turbulent teen years. His work, The Social Contract, would influence countless independence movements in the West.
June 27th, Thursday | Paul Laurence Dunbar, Elevator Poet
Paul Laurence Dunbar seemed to impress everyone he met. An early African-American writer, he’s best remembered for his poems, which we feature today.
June 26th, Wednesday | Pearl Buck brush with death
For Pearl S. Buck, writing wasn't just something she was going to try: it was her path to independence. Today’s poem, a sonnet.
June 25th, Tuesday | Who was George Orwell?
The author of the dystopian novel 1984 celebrates a birthday - but who was George Orwell really? Today's poem, a sonnet from Shakespeare.
June 24th, Monday | The first UFO 'sighting'
Today marks the first widely publicized UFO sighting and the birthday of the shoe-salesman you’ve definitely heard of. Can you guess his name?
June 21st, Friday | Boxers rebel!
Happy Summer Solstice! "Boxers" rebel in China and the global powers learn a lesson. "A Lazy Day" poem to kick off your summer!
June 20th, Thursday | Vitamins & Rationing
An African American writer and the biochemist who discovered vitamins share a birthday. In today’s poem, a child’s thoughts on their superior perspective.
June 19th, Wednesday | What is Juneteenth?
It’s Juneteenth, an important day for the freedom of all Americans. A South American icon has a birthday. Plus a free-verse love poem.
June 18th, Tuesday | Anastasia & an Economist
A heavily mythologized Grand Duchess and a modern American financial writer share a birthday. A bite-sized poem by Robert Frost for your Tuesday.
June 17th, Monday | Everyone's Favorite Cookie
Today is the birthday of the woman who invented the most-loved cookie in America: the chocolate chip cookie. Where did she invent it?
June 14th, Friday | Father's Day's dark past
Father’s Day has a dark past. A quick bit on birthday author Harriet Beecher Stowe and an absolutely darling poem for Father’s Day!
June 13th, Thursday | Yeats's Unrequited Love
Yeats was not a child prodigy and lacked an aptitude for much of anything in his youth. A mystical poem for your Thursday.
June 7th, Friday | Gauguin goes
A deep dive into the French artist Paul Gauguin, and a small bit on American poet Gwendolyn Brooks. Plus, a bite-sized love poem.
June 6th, Thursday | Two Writers
Two writers of very different times, genres, style and gender share a birthday. A rosy poem from Robert Frost closes out the morning.
June 5th, Wednesday | A Runaway Best-Seller
Uncle Tom’s Cabin might be another old book to us now…but it was the runaway best-seller in the 19th century. Plus, a related poem.
June 4th, Tuesday | The US Army had....Camels?
Before land rovers and tanks, the US Army tried...camels. Find out how and why. A nature poem by birthday poet brings us back to reality.
June 3rd, Monday | A Most Charming Spy
Today we take a closer look at the life of Josephine Baker, entertainer, spy, and activist. A short poem by Kipling starts off the week.
May 31st, Friday
Walt Whitman, as a child, had a chance encounter with Lafayette and worked for multiple newspapers before publishing his masterpiece, Leaves of Grass.
May 30th, Thursday | About a Girl
Joan of Arc’s birthday is unknown, but since today is her feast day, we are diving into her story. Plus, a summer-y poem.
May 29th, Wednesday | JFK & a Sherpa
A duo ascends to the top of Mount Everest. JFK was in office during the Cold War AND Civil Rights. Birthday poet’s poem.
May 28th, Tuesday | But wait: there's Moore
The first ever-recorded solar eclipse interrupted a battle and ended a war! The bard of Ireland and an Australian radio-physicist share a birthday.
May 24th, Friday | Memorial Day & Modern Kitchens
Does your kitchen have a ‘work triangle’? Meet the mother of the modern kitchen. Plus a special poem in honor of Memorial Day.