In his early poetry, Langston Hughes told the stories and experiences of Black people for both adults and children.
Poets and Poems: Dana Gioia and “Meet Me at the Lighthouse”
“Meet Me at the Lighthouse,” the new poetry collection by Dana Gioia, explores memory, family, and remembering what’s important.
For Valentine’s Day: Mary Oliver and “Felicity”
In “Felicity,” Mary Oliver includes 18 love poems — something of a surprise for a poet not known for love poetry.
Discovering a Forgotten Poet: J.V. Cunningham
Poet J.V. Cunningham defied the modernist fashion in poetry and published several collections of carefully crafted formalist poems.
Poets and Poems: Benjamin Myers at “The Family Book of Martyrs”
In “The Family Book of Martyrs,” poet Benjamin Myers writes about our hopes, our fears, and the things we love.
Poets and Poems: Nancy Murphy and “The Space Carved by the Sharpness of Your Absence”
In “The Space Carved by the Sharpness of Your Absence,” poet Nancy Murphy makes sense of loss, grief, pain, and separation.
Hidden, or Ignored, by History: “Afro-Creole Poetry” by Clint Bruce
With the poetry collection “Afro-Creole Poetry,” Clint Bruce opens a forgotten, or ignored, chapter in American history and poetry.
Poets and Poems: Tania Pryputniewicz and “The Fool in the Corn”
In “The Fool in the Corn: Poems,” Tania Pryputniewicz comes to terms with her unusual childhood and how it’s shaped her life.
Poets and Poems: Angela Alaimo O’Donnell and “Holy Land”
For poet Angela Alaimo O’Donnell, “Holy Land” has many definitions, encompassing not only the geographic but also those of lived experience.
Poets and Poems: Andrea Potos and “Her Joy Becomes”
In “Her Joy Becomes,” poet Andrea Potos invites the reader into her mind and her heart to experience what her mother meant to her.
Poets and Poems: Paul Brookes and “As FolkTaleTeller”
“As FolkTaleTeller,” the new poetry chapbook by Paul Brookes, includes 33 poems that tell the stories of English folk tales.
Poets and Poems: Jack Bedell and “Against the Woods’ Dark Trunks”
In “Against the Woods’ Dark Trunks,” poet Jack Bedell writes about the land and legends of south Louisiana.
“Elizabeth Bishop: A Very Short Introduction” by Jonathan Post
In “A Very Short Introduction,” Jonathan Post has written a concise and insightful summary of the life and poetry of Elizabeth Bishop.
Poets and Poems: David Russell and “Quadrilateral: Utterances”
“Quadrilateral: Utterances” by David Russell is a feast of language that leaves you both sated and hungry for more.
Poets and Poems: Kathy Fagan and “Bad Hobby”
The 45 poems of “Bad Hobby” by Kathy Fagan return continually to the importance of family and relationships.
Poets and Poems: Simon Armitage and “The Owl and the Nightingale”
British Poet Laureate Simon Armitage has translated the medieval poem “The Owl and the Nightingale,” and it sounds rather familiar.
Poets and Poems: Colm Tóibín and “Vinegar Hill”
“Vinegar Hill” is the first book of poetry by novelist and writer Colm Tóibín, and it underscores his reputation for storytelling.
Poets and Poems: Michał Choiński and “Gifts Without Wrapping”
“Gifts Without Wrapping,” a chapbook of poems by Michał Choiński, describes love and desire in the 21st century.
Experiencing Nature and the Earth with “Earth Song” by Sara Barkat
The 93 poems of Earth Song, collected by Sara Barkat, focus on the earth as an immediate, real place—avoiding abstract, theoretical poetry.
Poets and Poems: Yahia Lababidi and “Desert Songs”
In “Desert Songs,” poet Yahia Lababidi takes us on a pilgrimage to discover what we don’t know and to lose ourselves.