~ Early Web Links ~

Poetry.org offers an accessible introduction to the world of poetry, covering its history, meaning, forms, and key terminology for students and enthusiasts alike. The site also features a curated selection of works from celebrated poets including Shakespeare, Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson, and e.e. cummings, alongside a links page connecting visitors to broader poetry resources.

Daisysite is a charming personal neocities page built by a self-described poet who shares curated poem selections from writers like Kaveh Akbar, Maggie Smith, and Sam Sax alongside their own creative work and handmade jewelry. The site is still under construction but already offers a warm, literary atmosphere with a poem randomizer, shrines, and a guestbook for visitors.

Ain't Got No Press is a small poetry publisher run by Los Angeles poet and humorist Rick Lupert, specializing in uniquely themed anthologies including Jewish liturgical poetry collections like 'A Poet's Siddur' and ekphrastic verse. The site showcases their published books, features virtual publication party recordings, and accepts submissions from poets worldwide.

Rain's cozy corner of the web features personal writing, poetry, and music alongside a self-deprecating invite to browse their thoughts and interests. The site has a Serial Experiments Lain-inspired aesthetic and offers a blog, poetry section, and links for visitors to explore.

Auriea Harvey's site presents a haunting, minimalist piece of prose poetry that evokes texture, transformation, and the unknowable through vivid sensory imagery. The spare formatting and cryptic text give it the feel of a digital art object as much as a written work.

Jim McIntosh, a self-described shoemaker, shares original poetry on topics ranging from wildlife conservation to personal reflection, with pieces like his tribute to Cecil the lion and a poem written for a Big Cat Rescue music video. The blog blends travel, activism, and lyrical writing into a distinctly personal creative space with years of archived posts.

The Internet Poetry Archive is a curated online collection featuring works by celebrated poets including Seamus Heaney, Yusef Komunyakaa, Philip Levine, Czeslaw Milosz, and others, sponsored by the University of North Carolina Press and the North Carolina Arts Council. Created and edited by Paul Jones of UNC, it offers audio-encoded readings alongside poetic texts, making it a rich resource for both casual readers and serious students of contemporary poetry.

The Valley Below is a lyrical microblog blending original poetry, fragments of Plato's Phaedrus in Greek and English translation, and dreamlike prose meditations. Intimate beach photography and spare, evocative verse make this a quietly beautiful corner of the web for readers drawn to philosophy, love, and the oceanic sublime.

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.

Mudlark is a long-running electronic journal of poetry and poetics, publishing original poems, flash pieces, recordings, and essays by a wide range of contemporary poets since 1995. Edited by William Slaughter and hosted at the University of North Florida, the archive spans decades of issues and includes audio recordings of poets reading their own work.