Displaying 61 - 80 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.

Virginia Combs