~ Early Web Links ~

A single heartfelt poem by Paige Lynn Mandera, written in 1996, telling the story of lost love through the metaphor of a princess whose prince has moved on. The piece is simple and emotionally direct, capturing the raw ache of a broken relationship in a fairy tale framing.

Cato's Archive is a charming personal site framed as a literary archive, with poetry as its centerpiece alongside a curated library of books, software, and recipes. The creator, Cato, gives the site a warm archival personality, inviting visitors to explore shelves of collected poems and seasonal reading recommendations focused on classical literature.

A bilingual resource dedicated to helping English speakers appreciate Italian poetry, offering poems recited aloud alongside side-by-side Italian and English text with vocabulary context and language guides. The collection spans centuries of Italian verse, from Boccaccio and Tasso to 20th-century poets like Ungaretti and Quasimodo, making this a genuinely useful bridge between languages and literary traditions.

Amethyst Journey is MJM's personal creative site built around poetry and prose, described as an exploration into the human mind and heart with a focus on women's perspectives. Visitors can browse original writing, a gallery of favorite poets and artists, book recommendations, editorials on women's topics, and a community message board.

Batsword is a personal poetry collection featuring dozens of original poems with evocative titles like "Snow-walking," "AudioPoems," and "Planetary Passion," covering themes of nature, life, loss, and reflection. The site's author asserts full copyright over her work, suggesting a serious commitment to the craft across a wide range of subjects and moods.

Clare's personal corner of the web offers poems, musings, and heartfelt writing that leans into dark themes like grief, death, and the macabre. Styled with the nostalgic aesthetic of the old web, it promises a moody, intimate space for readers who appreciate queer, leftist, and emotionally raw creative writing.

Sixth Finch is a quarterly online journal publishing poetry and visual art from a rotating roster of contemporary contributors. Each issue features work from multiple poets and artists, making it a rich destination for readers interested in literary and visual experimentation.

Freckleskies is Alex's minimalist personal homepage on Neocities, presented in an evocative, poetic style with atmospheric fragments like 'the air is choking outside' and 'in through the clouds, a path.' The spare, intentional layout and literary tone give it the feel of a digital poem as much as a homepage.

PennSound is a massive archive of poetry audio recordings hosted by the University of Pennsylvania, featuring hundreds of poets reading their own work in MP3 format. From Susan Howe to Jerome Rothenberg, the collection spans decades of contemporary and avant-garde poetry, making it an invaluable resource for anyone interested in hearing poets in their own voices.

Sebastian Malloy's personal blog blends original writing, haiku, and art with candid personal reflection, anchored by a lifelong love of the typewriter. Recent posts range from playful haiku sequences to political anxiety pieces and literary musings on Popeye as a role model.