Welcome back to the Daily Poem here in the Close Reeds Podcast Network. I'm David Curie.

Today's poem is by Sylvia Plath, who died on February 11, 1963, at the age of 30. So yesterday

was the anniversary of her death. So today I'm going to read a Sylvia Plath poem.

Before I get to that, though, I want to remind you about our poetry memorization contest.

Today's February 12th, Tuesday, February 12th, which means there are two days left for our young listeners

to submit their recitations of J.R. Tolkien's poetry.

Remember, it is eight lines of poetry, and you can post on

social media, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, however you like, with the hashtag Daily Poem or

hashtag Daily Poem podcast if you like, or feel free to tag us at Close Reads Pods on Instagram.

As described on previous podcasts, we will choose winners from each of the different age groups,

and the winners will receive great prizes each of the different age groups,

and the winners will receive great prizes, such as beautiful books. So again, don't forget about that. Hashtag is either the Daily Poem or hashtag Daily Poem podcast on Instagram, Facebook,

or Twitter. Make sure it is at least eight lines. I assume most of you are hard at work or have

already submitted. We've been seeing lots of submissions come through and those are pretty exciting. Lots of great work out there. So I am excited

to pour over those. After a few days, we will announce the winner and then we will run an episode

where we actually play for you those winning recitations. All right, with that, let's get over to

this poem by Sylvia Plath. It's called Two Lovers and a Beachcomber

by the Real Sea. It was first published in 1955, which was actually the year that she graduated

from Smith College, and it was awarded the Glasscock Prize. I'll read it and then offer a few

comments about this poem in Sylvia Plath. And then that'll be it for today.

Two lovers and a beachcomber by the real sea.

Cold and final, the imagination shuts down its fabled summer house.

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