John Green Reads Poetry

So many poems to listen to!

Hey, there’s a missing poem!

Hi! This website is an ongoing labor of love inspired by John’s self-proclaimed love of poetry ¹ and the mission of Ours Poetica.²

We’re working very hard combing through the vast amounts of online content John and Hank have created ³ — and continue to create! — to find every instance of John reading poetry.⁴ Most of these were short poems that used to appear as an opening segment in the Dear Hank & John pod.⁵

Check out our growing list of missing or lost poetry-related John Green media:

Lost Media (help us out)!

We have a long way to go, and are using the posts’ dates as a way to organize everything chronologically with relevant tags to make everything extra useable!

So if you have a suggestion of something we missed or would like to share a piece of poetry-related media you’ve found…

Let us know!

—

  1. This is also a recurring riff in many of the opening segments of Dear Hank & John
  2. A lovely play on the Latin phrase Ars Poetica (“The Art of Poetry”)
  3. Examples: 1 | 2
  4. And, occasionally, someone else, such as his wife, his brother, or a poem inspired by one of Hank’s rants. Admittedly, some things are qualified as ‘poems’ rather loosely — John has read lyrics, and other nontraditional items as poetry, and that’s a wonderful thing!
    Because poetry is, always, what we make it.
  5. And are still missed by Nerdfighters everywhere!
ALL POEMS

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Dear Hank & John

Or as he likes to call it: “Dear John & Hank”

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“Momma Tried” (lyrics of chorus) by Merle Haggard

From the album of the same name, released 22 July 1968 (Capitol). The song was recorded 9 May 1968.

The brothers’ related banter…

J I just learned that Merle Haggard died Hank. As we are recording this I just found out on Twitter about the death of the great country music legend Merle Haggard. Merle Haggard who performed one of my all time favorite country songs, Mama Tried. Whether you know it or not Hank, you’ve heard that song. Do you know when?

H: Uh yeah, it was at your wedding.

J: It was at my wedding, it was my first dance with my mother after my wedding was Mama Tried. In fact Hank if you don’t mind, if I could just jump right into the poem for today. It’s just the chorus of Mama Tried which is a 2 minute long song and this is its brilliant chorus:

(Quotes chorus)

J: Mama Tried, the great Merle Haggard song, just a beautiful, beautiful song, and a wonderful song to dance with your mother to at your wedding.

H: That’s wonderful John, did you have another poem scheduled that you had to bump?

J: I did, I did, I had a nice Emily Dickinson poem but you know what? There’s world enough and time to quote a different poet.

H: It’s true, it’s true we’re going to keep making these. …

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https://www.tumblr.com/dearhankandjohnpodshortpoems/161181338684/043-mama-tried

Dear Hank & John | Ep. 043

And I turned twenty-one in prison doin’ life without parole
No one could steer me right but Mama tried, Mama tried
Mama tried to raise me better, but her pleading, I denied
That leaves only me to blame ’cause Mama tried

Click to read remaining lyrics

The first thing I remember knowin’
Was a lonesome whistle blowin’
And a young un’s dream of growin’ up to ride
On a freight train leavin’ town
Not knowin’ where I’m bound
And no one could change my mind but Mama tried
One and only rebel child
From a family, meek and mild
My Mama seemed to know what lay in store
Despite all my Sunday learnin’
Towards the bad, I kept on turnin’
‘Til Mama couldn’t hold me anymore

(Chorus)

Dear old Daddy, rest his soul
Left my Mom a heavy load
She tried so very hard to fill his shoes
Workin’ hours without rest
Wanted me to have the best
She tried to raise me right but I refused

(Chorus)

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