This site exists for one purpose only: to help dispel the ugly and absolutely untrue myth that poetry is boring. Granted, a lot of poetry is boring, but you won't find it here. At Your Daily Poem, you'll find poetry that is touching, funny, provocative, inspiring, uplifting, and surprising. It may punch you in the gut, it may bring tears to your eyes, it may make you laugh out loud, but it most assuredly will not bore you! Visit our home page every day to see a different poem.

Poetry on YDP—by poets living and long dead, famous to completely unknown--is specially selected for accessibility and appeal. Thanks so much for visiting—and remember: a poem a day keeps the doldrums away!

Mary Lou Taylor (1930 - 2023) tried three other majors before settling on English. A teacher off and on for many years, she got serious about writing poetry after she retired and, ultimately, published three books. A fourth collection was published posthumously.
Mary Lou was on the board of Poetry Center San Jose and served two terms as president. She was also a trustee f orthe Center for Literary Arts at San Jose State University.