The Stafford Challenge 2025-26 Anthology

A collection of over 200 poems from a global community of poets who committed to writing a poem a day for a year. Featuring original work by acclaimed poets including Naomi Shihab Nye, Kim Stafford, Kelli Russell Agodon, Vince Gotera, and more, this anthology showcases just a fraction of the thousands of poems written between January 17, 2025, and January 16, 2026, by members of The Stafford Challenge community. Inspired by the daily writing practice of William Stafford, these poets—from seasoned voices to those discovering their craft—dedicated themselves to a yearlong poetic journey. Whether they wrote every single day or simply showed up as life allowed, each poem here stands as a tribute to that commitment. This collection is a celebration of the creative spirit, dedicated to anyone who has ever felt the deep pull of language, creativity, and the desire to express something potent and true.