“Courage” by Phillippa Yaa de Villiers (born 17 February 1966 in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, South Africa).

“Hap” by Thomas Hardy (born 2 June 1840 in Stinsford, Dorset, England – died 11 January 1928 in Dorchester, Dorset, England)

“Does God Have a Listening Device?” by Abigail George (South African poet, writer, and blogger) — based in Gqeberha, South Africa.

“If We Must Die” by Claude McKay (born 15 Sept 1890 in Sunny Ville, Clarendon, Jamaica – died 22 May 1948 in Chicago, Illinois, USA). Note: Some sources cite 1889 as his birth year.

“Daddy” by Sylvia Plath (born 27 October 1932 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA – died 11 February 1963 in London, England)

“There is music” by Rethabile Masilo — Mosotho poet born in Morija, Lesotho; lives in Paris, France.

“To Katharine: At Fourteen Months” by Joelle Biele (born 1969 in the Bronx, New York) is an American poet, essayist, playwright, scholar, and editor based in the Baltimore area.

“After Midnight” by Linda Gregg (born 9 September 1942 in Suffern, New York, USA – died 20 March 2019 in New York City, USA).

“After Midnight” by Linda Gregg (born 9 September 1942 in Suffern, New York, USA – died 20 March 2019 in New York City, USA).

“There is music” by Rethabile Masilo (born 1961 in Morija, Lesotho)

“Gift” by Czesław Miłosz (born 30 June 1911 in Šeteniai, then in the Russian Empire and now in Lithuania – died 14 August 2004 in Kraków, Poland)

“When Death Comes” by Mary Oliver (born 10 September 1935 in Maple Heights, Ohio, USA – died 17 January 2019 in Hobe Sound, Florida, USA)

“Ink Is Blood” by David Barnes (born 1971 in Reading, England). He lives in Paris, France.

“Who Said It Was Simple” by Audre Lorde (born 18 February 1934 in New York City, USA – died 17 November 1992 in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands)

“Love After Love” by Derek Walcott (born 23 January 1930 in Castries, St. Lucia – died 17 March 2017 in Cap Estate, St. Lucia).

“The Sophisticated Skinhead” by Lefifi Tladi (born 4 January 1949 in Lady Selborne, Pretoria, South Africa) — South African poet, painter, sculptor, musician, and anti-apartheid activist.

“The River” by Phillippa Yaa de Villiers (born 1966 in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, South Africa) — South African poet, writer, and performance artist.

“Decorating a Cake While listening to Tennis” by Peg Duthie — American poet, writer, and editor based in Nashville, Tennessee. She is the author of the poetry collection Measured Extravagance (2012)

“Boulevard du Montparnasse” by Mary Jo Salter (born 15 August 1954 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA) — American poet, editor, essayist, playwright, and lyricist.

“A Surprise in the Peninsula” by Fleur Adcock (born 10 Feb 1934 in Papakura, New Zealand – died 10 Oct 2024 in London, England)