The Poet and The Poem

From “The Poet and the Poem from the Library of Congress": During July, on iTunes, we honor Poets Laureate of the United States who keep language from the evils of persuasion …who rinse off words, making them fresh and new.

From “The Poet and the Poem from the Library of Congress": During July, on iTunes, we honor Poets Laureate of the United States who keep language from the evils of persuasion …who rinse off words, making them fresh and new.

From “The Poet and the Poem from the Library of Congress": During July, on iTunes, we honor Poets Laureate of the United States who keep language from the evils of persuasion …who rinse off words, making them fresh and new.

From “The Poet and the Poem from the Library of Congress": During July, on iTunes, we honor Poets Laureate of the United States who keep language from the evils of persuasion …who rinse off words, making them fresh and new.

From “The Poet and the Poem from the Library of Congress": During July, on iTunes, we honor Poets Laureate of the United States who keep language from the evils of persuasion …who rinse off words, making them fresh and new.

From “The Poet and the Poem from the Library of Congress": During July, on iTunes, we honor Poets Laureate of the United States who keep language from the evils of persuasion …who rinse off words, making them fresh and new.

From “The Poet and the Poem from the Library of Congress": During July, on iTunes, we honor Poets Laureate of the United States who keep language from the evils of persuasion …who rinse off words, making them fresh and new.

From “The Poet and the Poem from the Library of Congress": During July, on iTunes, we honor Poets Laureate of the United States who keep language from the evils of persuasion …who rinse off words, making them fresh and new.

From “The Poet and the Poem from the Library of Congress": During July, on iTunes, we honor Poets Laureate of the United States who keep language from the evils of persuasion …who rinse off words, making them fresh and new.

Martin Espada is a Puerto Rican poet of massive strength and vitality charting the Puerto Rican experience in America with powerful poems.

Tory Dent died of aids contracted from a contaminated medical procedure, not of her own cause. This conversation is from her sickbed before she died, poems at the height of her brilliant groundbreaking power.

Tory Dent died of aids contracted from a contaminated medical procedure, not of her own cause. This conversation is from her sickbed before she died, poems at the height of her brilliant groundbreaking power.

Sheila Black writes of disability and is herself encumbered with a physical burden. She’s a champion of others and a lyrical poet.

Remica Bingham is a strong African American poet who also writes of finding a new marriage with step children, changing the ordinary into extraordinary.

Hiram Larew is our new ee cummings. His buoyant joyful poetry turns words upside down for the better.

David Gewanter has an inventive and original poetic form using quotes, newspapers, lectures, creating an historical collage. He writes vigorously of industrialism and capitalism as a cause of oppression.

Evie Shockley is a stunning poet whose work, “The New Black,” shines bright light on literature and progress.

Shauna Morgan writes and speaks beautifully of African American experiences and history with wisdom and warmth.

Rita Dove, a beloved poet, was the youngest U.S. Poet Laureate, 1993-95, and first African American since the title “US LAUREATE” replaced “Poetry Consultant to the Library of Congress.”

Billy Collins was Poet Laureate of the U.S., 2001-2002, and is one of America’s most popular poets. (Part II)

Billy Collins was Poet Laureate of the U.S., 2001-2002, and is one of America’s most popular poets. (Part I)

Laura Shovan’s acclaimed book is a novel in verse for children; The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary.

Emily Fragos’s stunning new book of poems is SAINT TORCH. She’s editor of The Emily Dickinson letters and EVERYMAN’s Library of pocket poets.

Frank X. Walker formerly Poet Laureate of Kentucky is Professor of English and African American Studies, U of Kentucky. He framed the term Affrilachia for his region.

Terry Blackhawk is from Detroit where she was a teacher and poetry activist, continuing her work now in Connecticut and Michigan.