65 new poems make it one of the most inclusive introductory collections available. New additions include:
- important canonical poets such as John Donne, Andrew Marvell, and Elizabeth Bishop;
- well-known 20th century poets such as Charles Simic, Margaret Atwood, and Lucie Brock-Broido;
- culturally diverse poets such as Victoria Chang, Eduardo Corral, Terrance Hayes, Srikanth Reddy;
- new contemporary voices such as Shara McCallum, D.A. Powell, and Timothy Donnelly.
A new chapter, "Poets on Poetry" addresses the question, "What is lyric poetry?" from the point of view of such poets as Sir Philip Sydney, William Wordsworth, Emily Dickinson, Wallace Stevens, Marianne Moore, Jorie Graham, and more. This intergenerational commentary helps orient students to poets’ perspectives on their craft, and gives context to the form’s enduring concerns.
Re:Writing for Literature, a robust online resource center, includes full biographies of poets included in the book with links to further resources such as audio files of poems and practical help for students doing close readings, research, and writing. Instructors also get access to "Teaching Poetry" on
Bits, a Bedford/St.Martin’s blog with more ideas for the poetry classroom.