Poets' Choice

Poets' Choice compiles selections of poetry and commentary from two former U.S. Poet Laureates, Robert Hass and David Lehman. The book originated from a weekly column in The Washington Post where the authors shared and discussed poems that held personal significance. The collection features works from both established and emerging poets across different time periods and styles. Each selected poem is accompanied by insights from either Hass or Lehman, explaining the technical elements and personal connections that make the piece noteworthy. Readers encounter a range of poetic forms including sonnets, free verse, and experimental structures, representing diverse voices from multiple cultures and traditions. The authors' analyses provide context about the craft, history, and cultural impact of each featured work. The book serves as both an anthology and a meditation on how poetry functions in readers' lives, revealing the intimate relationship between personal experience and artistic appreciation. Through their selections and commentary, Hass and Lehman demonstrate how poems can capture universal human experiences while maintaining individual resonance.

The book has limited reviews online, making it difficult to gauge broad reader sentiment. Readers noted they appreciated: - Expert poetry selections from Hass and Lehman's Sunday columns - Commentary providing context for each poem - Mix of classic and contemporary poets - Accessibility for poetry newcomers Main criticisms: - Some found the commentary too brief - A few readers wanted more depth in the analysis Review data: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (14 ratings, 2 reviews) Amazon: 4.5/5 (2 reviews) A Goodreads reviewer highlighted the book's value as "a good introduction to different poets and styles." An Amazon reader specifically praised how the commentary helps readers understand "why a particular poem was chosen and what makes it work." Note: This book should not be confused with the similarly titled "Poet's Choice" by Edward Hirsch, which has more online reviews.

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The Art of Poetry by Kenneth Koch This collection provides insight into poetry composition through Koch's experiences teaching poetry to students.

Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke The correspondence between Rilke and a young poet reveals perspectives on writing, creativity, and the poetic process.

Nine Gates: Entering the Mind of Poetry by Jane Hirshfield Essays explore the craft of poetry through analysis of works from multiple cultures and time periods.

🎨 Robert Hass served as the United States Poet Laureate from 1995 to 1997, during which time he focused on promoting ecological awareness through poetry and launched the "Watershed" environmental poetry initiative. 📚 The book emerged from a popular weekly column in The Washington Post called "Poet's Choice," where Hass shared and analyzed poems that moved him, bringing poetry to a broader audience. 🎯 David Lehman is the founder and series editor of "The Best American Poetry" anthology series, which has been published annually since 1988. 🌟 The selections in the book span centuries and continents, featuring works from ancient Chinese poetry to contemporary American verse, demonstrating the universal nature of poetic expression. 🖋️ Many of the featured poems were translated by Hass himself, who is renowned for his translations of haiku masters and Polish Nobel laureate Czesław Miłosz.