“Genius” is a website and a platform and a project… with the mission to annotate the world.

Of course, annotating the world includes annotating poetry. Below, you’ll find the (annotated) mission statement of “Genius,” which includes three allusions to poetry.

Classrooms around the world are using “Genius” to annotate literary and historical texts—including poems, of course.

Note: the video below (designed by a high school student) was made before RapGenius.com adopted the more inclusive name of Genius.com.

“Scholars” (the term for contributors to Genius.com) have annotated countless poems.

Two such poems are embedded below:  

Nothing Gold Can Stay (annotated by a high school student)  

The Hollow Men (annotated first by a high school class, and then further by the “Genius” community)

Begin annotating.

Create an account on Genius.com.

Follow “Lit Genius” (the fiction and poetry channel of the site) on Facebook and Twitter.

Contact education@genius.com to learn more about using “Genius” in the classroom.