Five Tiny Rituals for Reading Poems Out Loud

1. Dim the lights. A small lamp turns any room into a stage.

2. Sip something warm. Tea, cocoa, or just water in a special mug.

3. Whisper the first line twice. It tunes the ear.

4. Read the last line slowly. Let it land.

5. Sit in the silence afterward for a beat longer than feels comfortable.

That's it. That's the ritual.