Marcus Wicker
@poetmarcuswicker.bsky.social
Maybe the Saddest Thing & Silencer @eccobooks. Former Harvard @RadInstitute Fellow & @NEAarts Fellow. @uofmemphis MFA Prof. Boxing fanatic. Human as all get-out.
Pinned
I’ve got news! My third poetry collection, DEAR MOTHERSHIP, is forthcoming from Ecco in 2026. I wrote this book through grief, lapses in faith, career highs, bouts of disillusionment with the world, & a hard-fought rediscovery of joy. I’m so excited to share it with you!
No matter what, an hour spent talking shit in the barbershop is alway gonna lift me up. It’s also always mad insightful, for better or worse. & when it’s worse, man…
October 30, 2025 at 6:18 PM
No matter what, an hour spent talking shit in the barbershop is alway gonna lift me up. It’s also always mad insightful, for better or worse. & when it’s worse, man…
Reposted by Marcus Wicker
"Today’s poem is so relatable, because the speaker is doing what I so often do: watching videos on the internet in the middle of the night," says host @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social in episode 1375.
Read “Dear Absent," by @poetmarcuswicker.bsky.social and our full episode transcript: bit.ly/4nUopG3
Read “Dear Absent," by @poetmarcuswicker.bsky.social and our full episode transcript: bit.ly/4nUopG3
October 16, 2025 at 7:54 PM
"Today’s poem is so relatable, because the speaker is doing what I so often do: watching videos on the internet in the middle of the night," says host @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social in episode 1375.
Read “Dear Absent," by @poetmarcuswicker.bsky.social and our full episode transcript: bit.ly/4nUopG3
Read “Dear Absent," by @poetmarcuswicker.bsky.social and our full episode transcript: bit.ly/4nUopG3
Reposted by Marcus Wicker
"Today’s poem speaks to the ways we can care for one another, and of how profound and meaningful even the smallest gestures are,” shares host @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social in today’s episode.
Read “Lotioning My Mother’s Back” by Ama Codjoe: bit.ly/3KCwVKR
📖: @milkweededitions.bsky.social
Read “Lotioning My Mother’s Back” by Ama Codjoe: bit.ly/3KCwVKR
📖: @milkweededitions.bsky.social
September 24, 2025 at 2:41 PM
"Today’s poem speaks to the ways we can care for one another, and of how profound and meaningful even the smallest gestures are,” shares host @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social in today’s episode.
Read “Lotioning My Mother’s Back” by Ama Codjoe: bit.ly/3KCwVKR
📖: @milkweededitions.bsky.social
Read “Lotioning My Mother’s Back” by Ama Codjoe: bit.ly/3KCwVKR
📖: @milkweededitions.bsky.social
Just got to email zero. It may never happen again this year, & that’ll have to do.
August 28, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Just got to email zero. It may never happen again this year, & that’ll have to do.
Fit check for the first day, year 9 in Memphis
August 25, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Fit check for the first day, year 9 in Memphis
Reposted by Marcus Wicker
Today’s poem is selected by Emily Skaja (@emilyskaja.bsky.social) as part of the 20th anniversary of Read A Little Poetry.
It appeared in The Master Letters by Lucie Brock-Broido, published by Alfred A. Knopf, 1995. Shared here with deep gratitude.
It appeared in The Master Letters by Lucie Brock-Broido, published by Alfred A. Knopf, 1995. Shared here with deep gratitude.
August 24, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Today’s poem is selected by Emily Skaja (@emilyskaja.bsky.social) as part of the 20th anniversary of Read A Little Poetry.
It appeared in The Master Letters by Lucie Brock-Broido, published by Alfred A. Knopf, 1995. Shared here with deep gratitude.
It appeared in The Master Letters by Lucie Brock-Broido, published by Alfred A. Knopf, 1995. Shared here with deep gratitude.
My favorite poet showing out, showing her whole heart❤️ @emilyskaja.bsky.social
August 14, 2025 at 4:56 PM
My favorite poet showing out, showing her whole heart❤️ @emilyskaja.bsky.social
I’ve worn my Blowout Comb shirt in NYC, Detroit, & Chicago. But in the last 10 minutes 4 people have stopped me to say “Digable Planets changed my life.” Which is to say, Memphis is a real ass music town & people forget to say that part. When I say people I mean media. & people who don’t go outside.
August 8, 2025 at 8:44 PM
I’ve worn my Blowout Comb shirt in NYC, Detroit, & Chicago. But in the last 10 minutes 4 people have stopped me to say “Digable Planets changed my life.” Which is to say, Memphis is a real ass music town & people forget to say that part. When I say people I mean media. & people who don’t go outside.
Reposted by Marcus Wicker
Only just now discovering this Lucille Clifton poem dedicated to Clark Kent.
July 12, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Only just now discovering this Lucille Clifton poem dedicated to Clark Kent.
Apparently I can only be a morning writer on Fridays, camped out in front of the living room windows at 6 am with a draft & Gatorade bribes for the garbage men who forget our bins whenever I sleep in. Which is honestly some 40-year-old shit I never imagined for myself. #writers
June 27, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Apparently I can only be a morning writer on Fridays, camped out in front of the living room windows at 6 am with a draft & Gatorade bribes for the garbage men who forget our bins whenever I sleep in. Which is honestly some 40-year-old shit I never imagined for myself. #writers
Reposted by Marcus Wicker
Reposted by Marcus Wicker
This poem by @aireadee.bsky.social lifted me this morning on its Icarus wings.
"Light refracts my name in
dialect only moths comprehend."
"Light refracts my name in
dialect only moths comprehend."
Altitude
Icarus, he advised, heed the warning: don’t fly
poets.org
June 18, 2025 at 12:26 PM
This poem by @aireadee.bsky.social lifted me this morning on its Icarus wings.
"Light refracts my name in
dialect only moths comprehend."
"Light refracts my name in
dialect only moths comprehend."
Reposted by Marcus Wicker
Reposted by Marcus Wicker
Three striking new poems by Ellen Bass: "Call," "Oh honey, oh baby," and "Homage to the Dead Man," with audio.
https://www.terrain.org/2025/poetry/ellen-bass-2/
#poetry #poems #poet #fear #despair #praise #heart #death #family
https://www.terrain.org/2025/poetry/ellen-bass-2/
#poetry #poems #poet #fear #despair #praise #heart #death #family
Three Poems by Ellen Bass - Terrain.org
Three striking new poems by Ellen Bass: “Call,” “Oh honey, oh baby,” and “Homage to the Dead Man,” with audio.
www.terrain.org
June 6, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Reposted by Marcus Wicker
LA/BURBANK! I could not be more excited to talk to aja monet about her latest poetry book, FLORIDA WATER! Come chat with us at Buena Vista Library on July 1, 7pm! burbank.libnet.info/event/13500932
FLORIDA WATER by aja monet – Book Release
Burbank Public Library proudly presents an evening with celebrated poet and activist aja monet, discussing her new collection Florida Water!
burbank.libnet.info
June 3, 2025 at 7:24 PM
LA/BURBANK! I could not be more excited to talk to aja monet about her latest poetry book, FLORIDA WATER! Come chat with us at Buena Vista Library on July 1, 7pm! burbank.libnet.info/event/13500932
Reposted by Marcus Wicker
I'm a contributor to Breaking Atoms' "Elements: Searching For DOOM" episode. You can listen to it here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Elements: Searching For MF DOOM
Podcast Episode · Breaking Atoms: The Hip Hop Podcast · 05/29/2025 · 54m
podcasts.apple.com
May 29, 2025 at 8:15 PM
I'm a contributor to Breaking Atoms' "Elements: Searching For DOOM" episode. You can listen to it here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Reposted by Marcus Wicker
Poetry Daily is trying to add 1000 subscribers to their poem-a-day newsletter this month—it’s free, it’s a diverse reading experience, it’s an email you’ll actually be happy to see. 💫 @poetrydaily.bsky.social
Sign up here:
Sign up here:
Poetry Daily
Poetry Daily Email Forms
poems.us19.list-manage.com
May 23, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Poetry Daily is trying to add 1000 subscribers to their poem-a-day newsletter this month—it’s free, it’s a diverse reading experience, it’s an email you’ll actually be happy to see. 💫 @poetrydaily.bsky.social
Sign up here:
Sign up here:
Reposted by Marcus Wicker
My debut poetry collection is now available for pre-order from @matchfactoryeds.bsky.social, a great new press. I'm thrilled to be in their first round of releases! Check out all their books, and here's the link to mine if you're interested:
The Size of the Horizon, or, I Explained Everything to the Trees by Mitchell Nobis | Books | Match Factory Editions
The Size of the Horizon explores parenting, uncertainty, and injustice, weaving nature, gun violence, and joy into poetry that embraces life’s chaos.
matchfactoryeditions.com
May 16, 2025 at 12:13 PM
My debut poetry collection is now available for pre-order from @matchfactoryeds.bsky.social, a great new press. I'm thrilled to be in their first round of releases! Check out all their books, and here's the link to mine if you're interested:
I’ve got news! My third poetry collection, DEAR MOTHERSHIP, is forthcoming from Ecco in 2026. I wrote this book through grief, lapses in faith, career highs, bouts of disillusionment with the world, & a hard-fought rediscovery of joy. I’m so excited to share it with you!
May 14, 2025 at 3:26 PM
I’ve got news! My third poetry collection, DEAR MOTHERSHIP, is forthcoming from Ecco in 2026. I wrote this book through grief, lapses in faith, career highs, bouts of disillusionment with the world, & a hard-fought rediscovery of joy. I’m so excited to share it with you!
Reposted by Marcus Wicker
I'm elated to share the cover for my next poetry collection, It's Important I Remember, due out 2/15/2026 from Northwestern University Press and now available to pre-order. I pray that these words move you; may they be part of a movement toward one another and away from tyranny.
May 7, 2025 at 6:04 PM
I'm elated to share the cover for my next poetry collection, It's Important I Remember, due out 2/15/2026 from Northwestern University Press and now available to pre-order. I pray that these words move you; may they be part of a movement toward one another and away from tyranny.
Reposted by Marcus Wicker
My essay “After the Rooster Crows” is out today at @literaryhub.bsky.social.
It’s about exile, poetry, and what I’ve brought with me.
Thank you for reading.
lithub.com/after-the-ro...
It’s about exile, poetry, and what I’ve brought with me.
Thank you for reading.
lithub.com/after-the-ro...
After the Rooster Crows: Dispatch from a Poet in Exile
There is no other way to say this: I write you now from exile, having (if you are reading this) fled political persecution in my home country, the United (for now) States of America. I say this pla…
lithub.com
May 5, 2025 at 5:22 PM
My essay “After the Rooster Crows” is out today at @literaryhub.bsky.social.
It’s about exile, poetry, and what I’ve brought with me.
Thank you for reading.
lithub.com/after-the-ro...
It’s about exile, poetry, and what I’ve brought with me.
Thank you for reading.
lithub.com/after-the-ro...
Reposted by Marcus Wicker
How moved to find my sad spontaneous overflow at home in the wonderful Georgia Review, alongside work from writers I admire. Here's my girl, whew, here she is, friends, be gentle, snapped w/ a few other poems that caught my eye. What an issue! 🌾 Grateful for poetry. #nationalpoetrymonth
April 9, 2025 at 6:27 PM
How moved to find my sad spontaneous overflow at home in the wonderful Georgia Review, alongside work from writers I admire. Here's my girl, whew, here she is, friends, be gentle, snapped w/ a few other poems that caught my eye. What an issue! 🌾 Grateful for poetry. #nationalpoetrymonth
She doesn’t miss @emilyskaja.bsky.social
'Black lake, black boat,' by Emily Skaja was published in The Poetry Review Spring 2025, which is out now and available for purchase via the link in our bio, and is freely available to read on our website.
April 5, 2025 at 4:45 PM
She doesn’t miss @emilyskaja.bsky.social
I’ve decided to think of April as National Write Some Shit Month. Worked on an essay today. Might mess around and write a prose poem tomorrow and a grant narrative Thursday. Get real noncommittal with my dailyness this year.
April 1, 2025 at 9:08 PM
I’ve decided to think of April as National Write Some Shit Month. Worked on an essay today. Might mess around and write a prose poem tomorrow and a grant narrative Thursday. Get real noncommittal with my dailyness this year.
Headwear brought to you by Ron Mitchell, who has been known to sneak a just because gift into a box of Southern Indiana Reviews when I least expect it🙌🏾
March 5, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Headwear brought to you by Ron Mitchell, who has been known to sneak a just because gift into a box of Southern Indiana Reviews when I least expect it🙌🏾