Poetry Readings: 11 New and Engaging Examples Worth Listening

poetry readings

"Poetry is the language of the soul, and readings are the way to connect with others who have similar souls."

There is something special about poetry readings. It is a way to slow down and appreciate the beauty in words.

When you read poetry, you are connecting with the author on a deep level. It is a way to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and connect with your emotions.

Reading poetry can be a healing experience. In this article, I share some insightful information on poetry readings while sharing readings from a few of my poetry collections by my hired narrators, students, supporters, and customers. Do enjoy.

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11 Poetry Readings Worth Listening

In today’s fast-paced society, it can be difficult to find time to slow down and appreciate the simple things in life.

However, taking a few moments to enjoy a good poem can be a rewarding experience. Here are 11 poetry readings that are worth listening to:

1. My Plea-read by Haley Adderley

My Plea

I am trying baby,
But I am tired of fighting 
These surging urges.

I can’t conceal them anymore,
I don’t want to fight any longer.

You set me afire,
You ignite the fuel in depths 
Of my soul.
It’s the effortless ease 
In which you carry 
Your natural blessings.

It’s the electricity in your inviting eyes.
It’s the trailing scent 
Of your hypnotizing perfume.

It’s your charming 
And friendly personality.
It’s your sensuous simplicity.

Baby, please.
Am counting my lucky stars 
And 
Consulting Shamans,
Hoping that I have 
A fighting chance.
My wilting willpower 
Has grown weary,
And my reliable resistance is getting 
Weaker.

I am tired baby, 
Have mercy on me.
Baby please, 
I am weak. 

2. The Wind and Your Hair–read by Tiana Melvina

The Wind and Your Hair

I enjoy the way your hair
Take flight in the wind
Obediently dancing 
To every rhythmic beat.

I love the fragrance 
Your hair releases
To the command of 
The whispering wind.

I appreciate the way 
The sun finds its way
Through each wispy strand
Lending rich colour 
To your clustered beauty
In every way.

I enjoy the way the wind
Play those tender games
With your hair,

One moment it tenderly 
Toss a few strands 
Concealing your eyes

And 
Every now and again
Enough strands 
To obscure your entire face,

Some strands are even 
Wise enough
To steal a kiss by
Slipping through your lips.

I love the way you slowly
Brush those disobedient
Strands away with such
Seductive ease.
I love the sight of your hair
Blowing and flowing 
In the wind.

3. Individual by Sasha Davis-narrated by Ashia King

Individual

I don’t owe you my light 
In your darkness.

I don’t owe you 
The smile that dances 
Above my chin just beneath 
The tip of my nose.

I don’t owe you 
The breath from my lungs.

I don’t owe you 
The laughter in my soul,
The fire in my eyes,
The beat of my heart.
You don’t get to have me at my best 
When you discarded me 
At my worst.

My heart is not your playground,
My feelings are not your playthings,
My tears are not your swimming pools,
And my mouth is not your garden.

My body is not your forest,
My fingertips are not your branches.

I don’t hold roots in this world
But one of a higher calling
I’m a seed sown in rich soil
I'm an individual immersed in
My own self. 

Key Take Away: No matter how it is approached, reading poetry can be a rewarding experience. It can provide insight into the human condition, and expand one's understanding of the world. It can also be a source of great beauty and joy.

How to Read Poetry Book

In order to understand how to read poetry, one must first understand the basics of poetry. Poetry is a type of literature that uses language to express emotions or ideas in a rhythmic or musical way. There are many different types of poems, and each type has its own unique form and purpose. In order to read poetry effectively, one must be able to identify the different elements of a poem, such as the rhyme scheme, meter, and stanza structure.

4. The Good Samaritan-read by Amor Ferguson

The Good Samaritan

He never fitted into the intricate tapestry 
She created of her perfect lover.
He stumbled upon her 
In the love wilderness.
She was badly broken.

He fed her the sun on her darkest days.
Rearranged the stars to brighten 
Her darkest nights.
He gave her wings to fly again.
Added sparkles to her bleak eyes.
Sheltered and comforted her
Through pouring tears, 
And put a melodious song in her heart.

He never asked or looked for anything 
In return, 
He was just a good Samaritan 
Restoring a sister 
Who was fractured by another of 
Her insensitive perfect lover.

5. Drenched-read by Tiana Melvina

Drenched

I am drenched 
With desires for you.
You showed me a snippet of
Your sweetness and now
I’m left with uncontrollable longings.
I am drenched 
With desires for you.

Your irresistible blessings
Keep toying with me,
You test my self-control
And logical reasoning daily
I am drenched 
With desires about you.

I am drenched 
With your tantalizing tendencies,
Your butterfly gaze,
Your sugary smile,
Your graceful walk
And your tranquillizing voice.

I am drenched 
With insatiable desires for you.

6. Swimming Lessons-read by Monique Gill

Swimming Lessons

Don’t be alarmed
This was the norm
For us none swimmers.

We would accompany
Our brothers and their friends
On their swimming adventures
In the forbidden river.

And as always
Most of us sat on the safe side of
The river bank or
For those who felt courageous 
The treacherous bridge.

We watched in admiration
As they demonstrated their swimming
Skills while they frolic
And horseplay with each other
In the dark water.

And when they got
Tired and bored
Their attention turned to us.
The little boys with
‘swift feet’ and ‘nuff mouth.’

They perused us
Like hunters.
Sometimes the faster runners
Manage to elude the chasing pack
While the slow runners
Were always caught.

The chasing pack was
Well-coordinated,
They were too many chasers
And most of us invariable
Got caught because
We became tired.

The captured were brought back
Kicking and screaming
With no heed given
To our loud and desperate pleas.
We were brought to the middle
Of the bridge and suddenly
The river transformed into an ocean.

With hands and feet held
By two captors we were
Swung like a swing in the park.
Once...
Twice...
And on the third swing
Toss high
And far to the center of
The deep river
With a parting instruction
To swim to the edge.

On the first occasion
I was tossed
I remember going down
The first time
And i saw my world
Flashed before my trepid eyes,
I resurfaced moments later
Feet kicking,
And
Hands splashing water.

I was screaming in fear
But none of it helped me
Or earned any help or sympathy
From the skilled swimmers
Looking on.

And within seconds
The river seems to suck me
Below again for
The second time,
On this occasion, i swear i saw my
Mother bawling at my funeral.

But somehow i surfaced again
From this watery torture.
This time i heard my brothers
And his friends shouting,
Swim! Swim!

I was trying my best to no avail
And as i was about to
Go below for
The third time
To drink more water and
Die for sure

I felt the gentle hands
Of my big brother
Holding me around my waist
Reassuring me that i will be ok.
He held me while he swam
To the shallow side of
The river’s edge.

When we got there
I was instructed
To hold on to the grass
On the bank of the river and
Practicing my kicking
And floating skills.

My heart was pounding
I was existing on the limited breath
I started vomiting
River water like a pipe
While my other brothers
And their friends were
Having a healthy laugh
At the whole episode.

For some unexplained reason
We accompanied them
On these swimming escapades
Every time despite knowing
Our fragile fate.

After repeated exposure
To being tossed in
The middle of the river,
Coupled with my
Practice sessions in
The shallow portion
It all eventually paid off.
I gradually learned to swim.

Key Take Away: There are many different ways to approach reading poetry. You can read it for enjoyment, or you can analyze it for deeper meaning. You can also read poetry aloud, which can help you to appreciate the sound and rhythm of the words.

Why Read Poetry

In the fast-paced, constantly-connected world we live in, it can be easy to forget the importance of slowing down and taking a break from the noise. One way to do this is by reading poetry.

Poetry has been shown to provide a range of mental health benefits, including reducing stress, improving memory and concentration, and increasing self-awareness.

7. I Wanna-read by Shania Bellany

I Wanna

I wanna ride 
You to the precipice 
Of your fluid imagination
Where no rules exist.

I wanna flirt 
With your obscene obsessions
Playing your dangerous
Love games.

I wanna wrestle
With your unending urges
Just so you can
Pin me into breathless submission.
I wanna bend
You like a bow
Just to accommodate
My anxious arrow.

I wanna travel
With you to those
Forbidden places
Where we can live 
Dangerously 
And 
Our hearts beat 
Uncontrollably. 

8. Twin Tales (Mary’s Story), read by Monique Gill

Twin Tales (Mary’s Story)

This was no 
Immaculate Conception,
Mary and her boyfriend was 
Just fooling around.

She got pregnant.

The pressure that came with 
That realization was unimaginable.

Hiding from her classmates,
Thinking:
How would she finish school?
What would mom and dad say?
How would her boyfriend take the news?
She didn’t know what to do.

To her boyfriend, she broke the news,
But he became a flip-flopping fool
And couldn’t make up his mind.

So, she decided one day to visit 
The doctor.

She said he forcibly evicted the fetus
From her womb and after 
Stuffing it 
Into a jar with fluid, 
He gave her the news.

“They were twins,” she said calmly.

I saw the horror in her face
And felt her pain as she grabbed her now
Vacant tummy.

“Twins! Twins! Twins!” she screamed softly.

He tears flowed like torrential rain.
She was feeling pain only a mother 
Could understand.

     TWINS.
Twins…

Wasn’t that her blessing?
Why didn’t the doctor advise her 
Or counsel her?

I sat in her pregnant sadness 
Silently thinking,
And questions started popping up: 
What’s the purpose of the Hippocratic Oath?
Did those jars conceal their silent screams?

What does the abortionist do with 
These everyday memories?
What was he thinking while staring 
Into a young girl’s eye?
Does he have a daughter?

It wasn’t 
Immaculate Conception,
But they were twins.

TWINS!

Isn't that some kind of sin?
I am in no position to judge 
But after all these years 
I can still recall Mary’s story
And for me 
The pain and sadness
Never fades.

They were twins 

Key Takeaway: Reading poetry can be a rewarding experience, providing insights into the human condition and the world around us. It can also be a great way to relax and unwind. 

How to Read Poetry

When it comes to reading poetry, there are a few things you should keep in mind in order to get the most out of the experience.

• It’s important to read the poem aloud. This will help you to better understand the rhythm and flow of the piece.
• It’s helpful to read the poem more than once. This allows you to pick up on different details and layers that you may have missed the first time around.
• To understand and appreciate poetry, one must be willing to engage in close reading. This means taking the time to carefully examine each word and line of the poem, considering its literal meaning as well as its figurative implications.
• Look at the overall form and structure of the poem, as this can often give clues as to the poet’s intent.
• Paying attention to the sound of the words can also help you to pick up on any subtle nuances in the poem’s meaning.

9. I Am the Teacher You Love to Hate-read by Delicia Andrews

I Am the Teacher You Love to Hate

I am the teacher you love to hate
I sit and listen to their pains
I am the one who sees their small gains 
And dare to celebrate.

I am the teacher you love to hate.

I get branded ‘soft.'
I get reprimanded for not following the rules
Just because I refused to be a fool.
I am the teacher who chooses to
Teach my students rather than a subject.
I am the teacher you love to hate.

I take the time to see and feel their pains,
I take time to look a little deeper,
To be a little friendlier,
To be a father,
A big brother,
A disciplinarian, and 
Surrogate husband to imaginary mothers.

I am the teacher you love to hate.

I share their rainy days and teary eyes,
I hear their silent cries.
I laugh heartily in their funny company.
I take the time
To care,
To love,
To counsel,
To advice.

I am the teacher you love to hate.

I take time to hold their hands,
To leave my lessons unattended 
Just to console.
I walk with them,
Talk with them,
Confront their fears with them,
I am always there for them.
Yes…
I am the teacher you love to hate.

I refuse to accept their mediocrities
Refused to accept their superficial 
‘I can't.’

I remind them of Their-Story
Not His-Story. 
Our-Story.
I show them life on a chalkboard.
I AM THAT TEACHER!
I am that teacher, 
And I am proud to be,
Without any apologies. 

10. Seasons of Susan, read by Larry Herron

Seasons of Susan

               Before…
Before I came to know you
Oh, how I longed for you,
Longed for your touch,
Longed for your companionship,
Longed to savour your flavor.
I yearned to taste your
Sweet and sultry beauty.
I craved for you.

               During… 
During the season of Susan
Oh, how I relished your essence,
Each drop, precious, priceless,
Unique.
The experience took me 
Above and beyond the clouds. 
There I lazed in blissful tranquility
Satisfied…I was high.
               Then suddenly…
Suddenly. 
You vanished!
Like a prey from its hunter.
My ecstasy ripped from beneath me.
               After… 
Now I am back to where I began
Longing…
Yearning…
Craving…
Wanting…
Remembering…
The Seasons of Susan. 

11. One dance, read by Larry Herron

One Dance

In a dimly lit café
Her natural beauty illuminated the table.
Soft red lights gentle caresses
Her luscious features as slow reggae jams
Dominate the cozy space.

Beres Hammond was at his vintage best,
So I asked you for one dance.
That night, the DJ was indulging in 
Musical Sorcery-
With every selection, we sink

DEEPER
And 
DEEPER
and 
DEEPER

In a sea of romantic fantasies.
Her now warm body so soft 
I can taste her silky smoothness.
Her head upon my chest as the lyrics
Takes us away captives.

My lips refashioned from 
Whispering honeyed words,
To playfully pecking her forehead 
To lightly caressing 
Her irresistible lips.

We are now drifting in musical waves 
Where slow 
Dancehall bump and grind evokes 
Fast and choppy breaths.

Sensual rhythms tie us up so close 
That the tip of my nose
Skim across her steaming body
The heat…
Radiates the soothing fragrance 
Of her arresting perfume-
I am anchored!

We are lost in this dancehall sea
And time no longer has meaning 
As we sail on from 
One musical selection to another, 
Riding the waves of a multitude 
Of lyrical passion.
 

Key Takeaway: Poetry is meant to be heard, not just read silently on the page. Poetry readings are a great way to connect with an audience and bring the poems to life.

Frequently Asked Questions About Poetry Readings

1. What are poetry readings called?

Answer: There is no one answer to this question as different poetry readings can go by different names. However, some common names for poetry readings include open mic nights, slam poetry events, and poetry slams.

2. Where can I find poetry readings?

• Answer: There are many places to find poetry readings. You can look online for listings of local events, or check with your local library or bookstore. Many colleges and universities also have regular poetry readings.

3. How do you give good poetry readings?

• Answer: There are a few things you can do to make sure your poetry reading is successful. First, practice reading your work out loud beforehand so that you are comfortable with the material. Second, make eye contact with your audience and speak clearly so they can follow along. Finally, try to add some inflection to your voice to keep things interesting.

4. What is the meaning of reading poetry?

• Answer: There is no one answer to this question as the meaning of reading poetry can differ for each person. However, some people may read poetry for enjoyment, to appreciate the beauty of the language, or to better understand the emotions and experiences of the poet. Additionally, some people may find that reading poetry can help them to better express their own emotions and thoughts.

Final Thoughts on Poetry Readings

As we conclude this article on poetry readings, it is important to remember one important point. It is essential to understand the purpose of a poetry reading.

A poetry reading is not simply a recitation of a poem; rather, it is an opportunity for the poet or the reader to share their interpretation of the poem with an audience in order to create a connection between the two.

This connection is essential in order for the poem to have its intended effect.

If you're struggling to find enjoyment in reading poetry, this How To Read Poetry post will show you how to read poetry with a new perspective. By the end, you'll be able to see the beauty in poems and understand them on a much deeper level. 
Don't miss out on the opportunity to engage with poetry in a whole new way – dive into this guide now!