Reviews for The Poets Laureate Anthology

The average rating for The Poets Laureate Anthology based on 26 reviews is 3.9615384615385 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2010-10-06 00:00:00 Jihad Baker This is a wonderful, huge volume of poetry anthologizing all those poets who've served as the nation's Poet Laureate or--as the position was originally appointed--as Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. They range from Joseph Auslander (1937) to W. S. Merwin (2010), the outgoing laureate now that Philip Levine was named a few weeks ago to succeed him. Two things are interesting about The Poets Laureate Anthology. First, the arrangement of the poets and their poems runs backward in time from the newest laureate to the earliest. This is an ordering that seems to not make a bit of difference; I can't detect any shifts in style or fashion. Certainly not in quality. Second, all the poets are fairly conventional in form and technique. I'm familiar with most of them. Some I read regularly. One I'd never heard of--Auslander. Some, like Reed Wittemore and Josephine Jacobsen, I'd never read before. Some are old favorites and one--Joseph Brodsky--still fails to move me. William Jay Smith, last read by me in the 60s, was an exciting rediscovery. This is a muscular collection representing some of the best postwar poets and their work. You would expect to see them included in any anthology of modern poetry. In this collection, they all heppen to be laureates of consultants.

Review # 2 was written on 2011-09-19 00:00:00 Harold Price Though I guess I'm glad someone finally thought to put together a collection of the Poets Laureate (as if any of them needed to be anthologized again), one would do well to remember that the position itself is typically political and relies heavily on certain criteria (being alive, for instance; popularity and accessibility; marketability, even) that don't always guarantee good poetry. Billy Collins, Ted Kooser, and Kay Ryan are among some of the more lackluster Poets Laureate in recent years--and, given this anthology came out before the recent appointments of W.S. Merwin and Philip Levine--which is a bit of a let-down, as it leaves them (Collins, Kooser, and Ryan) as the Rushmore heads of contemporary poetry, at least as far as this book in concerned. I might give this to my mother or sister as a Christmas gift, but certainly not to a fellow lover of poetry.

Review # 3 was written on 2011-01-17 00:00:00 Marian Wagner I have read many of the poets' works included here and new to me poems. I believe in the saving or healing power of words/language when put together well. Billy Collins has become a new favorite. I only regret that James Wright's works are not included here as he still is held high on my list of contemporary poets. "A Blessing" being my particular favorite from among Wright's many works. This is book to savor; hence I'll not put a date to finish it. I plan on returning to it often.

Review # 4 was written on 2011-04-06 00:00:00 Paige McKiernan The Library of Congress recently collaborated with Elizabeth Hun Schmidt to collect a select group of poems from the 43 U.S. Poets Laureate in The Poets Laureate Anthology, which lays out the poems in reverse chronological order (click for a list of the poets laureate) from the current laureate W.S. Merwin through the first poet laureate Joseph Auslander. The table of contents also points out that poems in brackets listed for each laureate are considered their signature poems. The collection contains a foreword by former poet laureate Billy Collins and an introduction by the editor, Elizabeth Hun Schmidt. In the foreword, Billy Collins reveals the ceremony or lack thereof that comes with the office of U.S. Poet Laureate, noting that there is no formal naming ceremony, simply a phone call from the Librarian of Congress who selects the latest laureate. The post does come with an office in the Jefferson Building, but each laureate approaches the appointment differently, though former laureate Howard Nemerov explained that the laureate spends more time explaining the duties he or she performs than actually accomplishing much. Elizabeth Hun Schmidt's introduction discusses the placement of the poet laureate's office in a remote wing of the Library of Congress near the rooms used by U.S. House teenage pages, "You might think our country wants to both flaunt and to hide the fact that the only official job in the arts in the United States is for a poet" (page xiv of The Poets Laureate Anthology, published by W.W. Norton in association with the Library of Congress). The office of Poet Laureate actually receives mail, and appointed laureates often travel the country exposing new people and communities to poetry, but only Robert Frost was asked to read at a presidential inauguration.

Review # 5 was written on 2012-10-18 00:00:00 Florentino Hidalgo I love the way this collection of poetry is organized. It begins with the most modern of the poets laureate, and moves successively back in time. As one of those people who always starts at the beginning of books and never jumps around, I all too often I miss out on "the folks in the back" when reading chronological anthologies. This present-to-past organization helped me to approach each poet in his or her own right, without focusing too much on possible influences by the poets I'd just read. A I love the way this collection of poetry is organized. It begins with the most modern of the poets laureate, and moves successively back in time. As one of those people who always starts at the beginning of books and never jumps around, I all too often I miss out on "the folks in the back" when reading chronological anthologies. This present-to-past organization helped me to approach each poet in his or her own right - without focusing too much on possible influences by the poets I'd just read. A few of the poets in this book were already familiar to me - Billy Collins, Robert Penn Warren, Robert Frost (of course), William Carlos Williams, Elizabeth Bishop - but many were totally new. I feel that I've met some new friends. Especially Kay Ryan. I can't believe I'd never run into her delightful poems before. With each new poet, a short biography is provided - just a page or two long. More than just names, dates, and book titles, these biographies are encounters with the poets as human beings. They include some poignant quotes from the poets - reminders of why poetry is important and what prompts us to write and read it. Odd as it may sound, another highlight of this anthology is its foreword by Billy Collins. In his playful style, he introduces the book by explaining some about the poet laureate position, pointing out some of the particular treats lying ahead, and reminding us that, "each of these poems began as a smaller thing - an initiating line, an intriguing image, a 'lump in the throat,' as Frost put it - not as a contribution to an anthology such as this one with its sober historic title." A helpful reminder to approach poetry with an open mind, letting the words and images speak to us and move us, and leaving at the door our high school intimidation of poetry or tendency to dissect it. ***** If you appreciated this review, check out my blog at pagesandmargins.wordpress.com

Review # 6 was written on 2011-08-20 00:00:00 Joseph Marinella This is a special book for me. It was presented at the beginning of May to the Pittsford Library, kindness of the group I have been leading there for over three years, where each week we read good poems out loud and discuss what works in the poem first, before saying what works for us. This book will give you 43 views from 43 men and women, some black, some white, some academic, some anti-elitist, but ALL understanding that there is something about poetry which slows down time. It will also take you through 75 years of contemporary American poetry, and visions of each national laureate. Although the title of "Poet Laureate" might send shivers up the spine of the reader who doesn't want any association with academia and would prefer to avoid any political position, I highly recommend spending some time with this book, if only to read the introduction by Billy Collins (and his mention of 26 poems by fellow laureates that caught his attention) and the wonderful portraits Elizabeth Hun Schmidt has created. Perhaps it will be Billy Collins' ironic sense of humor, Ted Kooser's short and pithy descriptions of everyday people and life; Merwin's pivoted end lines which send you backwards and on to the next line at the same time; Kay Ryan's rhyme which escapes the trivial yet not the interplay of sound to underscore a message; Simic's surrealism. There are as many diverse reasons for loving poetry as flavors of types of poetry. If you love pistachio ice cream, is that is the only flavor you want when you are given a choice? Why do we choose vanilla one day, and black raspberry another? Reading all types of poetry allows us to examine what it is about certain flavors that excite the taste buds, remind us of experience, and open windows into our mind, heart, soul, to better understand what it is to be human.

Review # 7 was written on 2011-01-06 00:00:00 Mike Nowotny My daughter gave me this book for Christmas, having heard about it on NPR. This is a fearsomely chunky book, with BEAUCOUP big-time poems and commentary from the poets. I have to admit that I am not generally inclined to seek out modern poets, but this volume is crammed with gems. The editors have sifted through the works of the American Poets Laureate and served up the tastiest morsels. Prior to reading the commentary from the editors and poets, I had a dim notion that there was such a thing as an American Laureate, but I had no idea as to what they did or how they were selected. It seems that they are chosen by the Librarian of Congress, serve for about a year or two and pretty much do whatever they want to promote appreciation of poetry. They get an office in the Jefferson Building with a view that several of the poets proclaimed the best in Washington. I have always defined poetry as being the way to cram the most meaning and emotion in the fewest words, in the most graceful fashion. By that rough definition, the poets represented here are stellar. This is really good stuff. These guys know how to twist a sentence by its tail and make it sit up and spit cider in your ear. These words have impact and aftershocks. They make you feel and think and look inside your head. If you get a charge out of beautiful words, if you are challenged by wordplay, if you thrill to emotional content well packaged, this is your book for the New Year.

Review # 8 was written on 2020-07-22 00:00:00 Margaret Andrews I took a course, and this book was our textbook. Even beyond the poetry, I learned more about the United States. Each year (sometimes two) a poet laureate is selected by the Librarian of Congress. Here is the list of all of them: Joseph Auslander (started 1941) Allen Tate Robert Penn Warren Louise Bogan Karl Shapiro Robert Lowell, Jr. Léonie Adams Elizabeth Bishop Conrad Aiken William Carlos Williams (appointed but did not serve) Randall Jarrell Robert Frost Richard Eberhart Louis Untermeyer Howard Nemerov Reed Whittemore Stephen Spender James Dickey William Jay Smith William Stafford Josephine Jacobsen Daniel Hoffman Stanley Kunitz Robert Hayden William Meredith Maxine Kumin Anthony Hecht Robert Fitzgerald Reed Whittemore Gwendolyn Brooks Robert Penn Warren Richard Wilbur Howard Nemerov Mark Strand Joseph Brodsky Mona Van Duyn Rita Dove Robert Hass Robert Pinsky Stanley Kunitz Billy Collins Louise Glück Ted Kooser Donald Hall Charles Simic Kay Ryan W.S. Merwin Philip Levine Natasha Trethewey Charles Wright Juan Felipe Herrera Tracy K. Smith Joy Harjo (current 2019 to 2020)

Review # 9 was written on 2011-02-08 00:00:00 Jeremy Trimble A great look at each of the U.S. poets laureate; if you have collections by many or most of these poets, the book will be mostly interesting for the synopsis of each poet's tenure while in office. But if not, you might find yourself a new poet or two to like (I'd never read Ted Kooser before starting this book). Lots of great poems inside, though choices are obviously limited due to its scope, and many poems will be ones most poetry fans are familiar with. One exception: the poems chosen for W.S. Merwin's section, many of which I did not count among my favorites, but ah well. Still a great book. Billy Collins' introduction is fantastic.

Review # 10 was written on 2011-08-01 00:00:00 J�rg Maltzan In an age where form has largely been disdained as greeting card verse, it is chastening to perceive how impressive the formalists were, in both contemporary speech and skill. Those like Wilbur, Penn Warren, Hecht…amazingly talented not only in what they said but how they said it. The Poet's Laureate Anthology is limited in that it features only poems by the Laureates, and there have certainly been notable poets who never attained this honor, and some who did, can't match the achievements of many non-laureates.Nonetheless, this is an anthology that could find a place in any poetry lovers library, and ought to.

Review # 11 was written on 2016-08-16 00:00:00 Ken Hills As an anthology, this is a curious bag that ranges over time and tastes. By definition, all of the writers here are accomplished and reasonably well known. Each poet gets a bit of biographical information, followed by several examples of his or her writing. Serious students of poetry may find it a bit redundant. But I appreciated being able to sample some of the finest poets of their age in sequence. It really has been a pleasure to dip into again and again.

Review # 12 was written on 2011-01-03 00:00:00 Adam Parton A great overview of 20th Century American poetry from the people selected by the Library of Congress to represent it, accompanied by brief yet helpful biographies of the poets. Especially of interest were the more recent laureates, who were not necessarily famous enough to have made it into my literature courses back in the 90s. Good stuff.

Review # 13 was written on 2011-04-05 00:00:00 Joseph Vargas Reading a large book of poetry is like taking a long trip. You have to stop and look around you to truly enjoy where you are. Sometimes I read through books so quickly but poetry is more about sitting still and savoring the experience. It is not so important to get somewhere else, the journey is the destination.

Review # 14 was written on 2010-10-23 00:00:00 Kimberley T Walker I liked the idea of collecting signature poems from the past Poets Laureate more than the actual poems selected.

Review # 15 was written on 2011-01-01 00:00:00 Patrick S. Crotty Most of the poets I knew and had read a little before, but some I had not. It was a nice reminder of their work and a tour of 20th-century American poetry.

Review # 16 was written on 2011-01-16 00:00:00 Kevin Bickford One of the best poetry anthologies that I have ever read!!

Review # 17 was written on 2011-01-26 00:00:00 David Baird OK, so now I know that there are only a few American Laureate's that I truly care for (see Frost)

Review # 18 was written on 2011-02-10 00:00:00 Mark Mandel A must have in every reader's collection.

Review # 19 was written on 2011-03-02 00:00:00 Natalie Amabile I will have to buy this while its on the 25% off table at Prairie Lights.

Review # 20 was written on 2011-09-26 00:00:00 Raymond Bissett Had to stop at Richard Wilbur because someone else has requested it from the library. An interesting collection so far. Though I still just don't get Louise Gluck.

Review # 21 was written on 2012-02-19 00:00:00 Martin Koerner this anthology features seventy-five years of recognized poets and not-so-known snippets of their lives. Mix in popular works and some of their unloved pieces yielding a rare collection.

Review # 22 was written on 2012-08-28 00:00:00 Doug Horner Not a book you read from beginning to end, like many anthologies. But has some good poets--like Ted Kooser!

Review # 23 was written on 2012-11-02 00:00:00 Robert Bombace This is the closest I've ever come to being able to select one book for deserted island reading.

Review # 24 was written on 2013-07-28 00:00:00 Thomas Ferguson Found at the charming Mermaid Books in Williamsburg for six bucks! All the US Poets Laureate through 2010. This is just the gimmick to get me to dive into some good poetry.

Review # 25 was written on 2013-10-20 00:00:00 Just Whitfield Delightful read of some of the best American poetry

Review # 26 was written on 2015-06-05 00:00:00 John Jackson Very good book to pick and choose. Made poetry accessible to me.