The Sealey Challenge Week #1

Reading a poem a day and supporting The Sameer Project 🍉🇵🇸

Aug 08, 2025

The Sealey Challenge was started by the poet Nicole Sealey and lasts the entire month of August. The challenge is to read a book of poetry a day, totaling thirty-one books. I’ve wanted to participate in years past, but was daunted by the task of reading a poetry collection a day. I read daily, but one entire book a day... I worried I wouldn’t be able to absorb and spend enough time with each book, which they deserve. This year, the challenge introduced a new initiative. Along with dedicating the month to reading poetry, you could request friends and family to sponsor your reading and donate to The Sameer Project, a donations-based initiative led by Palestinians in the diaspora working to supply aid to displaced families in Gaza. I knew I wanted to participate, but once again, I felt anxiety at the prospect of reading a book a day. I decided a poem a day was worthy enough and would help support a cause I strongly believe in (also, The Sealey Challenge is very relaxed and wants you to do what works best for you and your reading life). I wanted to extend this a bit further since I wouldn’t be reading a book a day, and decided to share each poem as a video on my Instagram daily, along with the donation link. At the end of each week, I will post the poems I read and shared, along with the collection they come from, and repost the donation link for anyone interested in supporting The Sameer Project and sponsoring my reading. It isn’t too late to join The Sealey Challenge! If you do decide to sponsor me, please let me know, as I am keeping track and hoping to reach my personal donation goal!