The Sealey Challenge

“During the challenge, we read new and old books, we read books we’ve been putting off and reread books we love.” — Nicole Sealey

Signing off for some much-needed rest 😴💤 but keeping the spirit of poetry alive! Thank you to everyone who read, posted, shared, and engaged with poetry this August! We’ll see you same time next year for the next #SealeyChallenge!

Excited to announce this year's #SealeyChallenge BINGO winners! Thank you to everyone who participated and we can't wait to celebrate with you all again next year! Giveaways are from the amazing @copper_canyon_press, @graywolfpress, and haymarketbooks!

"I think importantly, the challenge encourages living with poetry. It's not about making sure you hit that 31 books, it's about embracing poetry daily." — 2025 Sealey Challenge Reader

"Poetry matters. Connection matters. Discovery matters. Living poets matter. The world is on fire, and poetry is both the balm and the smoke-warning." — 2025 Sealey Challenge Reader 💖

Thank you to everyone who has taken the survey so far—it's been incredibly moving to learn why the Sealey Challenge matters to you. One person wrote: "Poetry is like air—I need it to breathe, and I need breath to (really) live." ❤️ forms.gle/mmkjQF7ijLX5ro…

We'll be selecting the BINGO winners in the days to come—stay tuned!

How much poetry have we read together for the #sealeychallenge? Let's find out! forms.gle/fGpW8mzCirKaWw… (link in linktree!)

Have you been playing #SealeyChallenge BINGO? We'll be drawing the winners for this year's BINGO this weekend, so be sure to submit your entry no later than Friday Sept 5 👏 forms.gle/XELVWN66Sbrs5p…

What books did you read this year for the #SealeyChallenge? We’d love to see your shelfies!

Can you believe this year marks the NINTH annual Sealey Challenge?? Please complete the survey so we can learn how much poetry we've read together in community over the past 9 years! forms.gle/fGpW8mzCirKaWw… (link in linktree!)

How much poetry have we read together for the #sealeychallenge? Let's find out! forms.gle/fGpW8mzCirKaWw… (link in linktree!)

If you have a moment, please take this quick survey so we can learn how much poetry we've read together over the past 9 years! forms.gle/fGpW8mzCirKaWw…

We've read so much together this year: poem after poem after poem 🫶🏿 Just a few more wonderful days of this year's #SealeyChallenge!

Poetry is an endurance technology. —Dana Levin #sealeychallenge #readmorepoetry

August is about to draw to a close, and our final #TuesdayTip is this: return to these books again and again. Which books of poetry have you (or do you plan to) come back to over and over—and what made them so special?

Don't miss out on these free Sealey Challenge giveways! If you've been playing BINGO this year, we've got some wonderful giveaways to award the winners. Submit your entry here: forms.gle/6S4s8suuZLdc1f… For Golden Sealies and poetry postcards: forms.gle/r3skPZhHKGkzWz…

It's time to show off your stacks, piles, and poetry picks (especially with your favorite critter!)—what have you been reading for this summer's #sealeychallenge?

Resharing as we enter the final week of the #SealeyChallenge: If you can’t read a book of poetry everyday, that’s okay! Accommodate yourself—read a poem a day, or read for 20 minutes a day, or participate every other day—and remember all time spent with poetry is worthwhile <3

Plum and arugla and the peach on the highest branch—paired with Ross Gay. A small pizza cut into tiny bites alongside Ada Limón. A tall glass of 'loisfoeribari' with Aracelis Girmay. Let's hear your #sundaysuggestions for what to read next, and what nourishes alongside them.

Every poem is an action. Every action is political. Every poem is political. —Solmas Sharif Postcard designed by Tucson artist Allison Miller • alleycatmurals.org