Poetry Archive

"Instead of whispering sweet nothings on Valentine's Day, let the Poetry Archive send sweet somethings for you." Joanna Lumley

Celebrate Valentine's Day with the Poetry Archive

In partnership with The Times Online, we're going to make it possible for you to send a recording of a beautiful love poem to your beloved on February 14th. Readers include Carol Ann Duffy, Andrew Motion, Judi Dench, Jude Law, Keira Knightley, Ian McKellen, Helen Mirren, Daniel Radcliffe, Ronan Keating & Joanna Lumley.

Find out more

Watch a video introduction

Talk with our new Poet in Residence

This term's poet is Kei Miller

Each term, a different poet takes up residence in the Archive, talking about poetry with our visitors.

Join the conversation

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Will you help us record more poets?

Please help us to expand and improve the Archive

The Poetry Archive is a registered charity. We depend upon donations from our visitors to make new recordings and to add new features to the Archive. All donations, large and small, are gratefully received and are acknowledged on the site.

Make a donation

Prose is walking; Poetry is flying.

Galway Kinnell

Visit Galway Kinnell's page

An introduction to the Archive.

The Poetry Archive is the world's premier online collection of recordings of poets reading their work.

You can enjoy listening here, free of charge, to the voices of contemporary English-language poets and of poets from the past. The Archive is growing all the time. Please come back regularly to enjoy our latest recordings.

Watch a video introduction by Andrew Motion

Adrian
Henri

View all Historic Recordings

Teachers
Bring poetry to life in your school! These pages are specially designed to help you and your students to get the most out of the Poetry Archive.

Students
The Poetry Archive is a great place for students to research and learn about poetry.

Librarians
Support and practical ideas to help you and your readers enjoy the Archive.

New to Poetry?
Tips on using the Archive for less confident readers, and for those who are unfamiliar with reading poetry.