Wewereverytired,wewereverymerry—
Wehadgonebackandforthallnightontheferry.
Ken Burns, filmmaker
Andtheskywentwan,andthewindcamecold,
Joy Harjo, poet
Andyouateanapple,andIateapear,
Tia Williams, novelist
Andthewhistleskeptblowing,andthedawncamesoon.
Kevin Kwan, novelist
Itwasbareandbright,andsmelledlikeastable—
Butwelookedintoafire,weleanedacrossatable,
Reginald Dwayne Betts, poet
Itwasbareandbright,andsmelledlikeastable—
Butwelookedintoafire,weleanedacrossatable,
Ayad Akhtar, playwright and novelist
Wewereverytired,wewereverymerry—
Wehadgonebackandforthallnightontheferry.
Jennifer Egan, novelist
Andtheskywentwan,andthewindcamecold,
V. E. Schwab, novelist
Wehailed,“Goodmorrow,mother!”toashawl–coveredhead,
Jenna Bush Hager, TV host and noted book lover
Question 1/3
Fill in the missing words.
Itwasbareandbright,andsmelledlikeastable—
Butwelookedintoafire,weleanedacrossatable,
Tap a word above to fill in the highlighted blank. Need help? Click “See Full Poem
& Readings” at the top of the page.
Edited by Gregory Cowles, Alicia DeSantis, Nick Donofrio and Joumana Khatib. Additional editing by
Emily Eakin, Tina Jordan, Laura Thompson and Emma Lumeij. Design and development by Umi Syam and
Eden Weingart. Additional design by Victoria Pandeirada. Video production by Caroline Kim.
Additional video production by McKinnon de Kuyper. Photo editing by Erica Ackerberg. Illustration
art direction by Tala Safie.
Illustrations by Hannah Robinson.
Audio of “Recuerdo” from “Edna St. Vincent Millay in Readings From Her Poems” (1941, RCA); accompanying
photograph from Associated Press.
