90 dazzling new poems. The collection features many of the most engaging of today’s poets, with plenty of humorous poems and works on daily life and contemporary issues that students can relate to, including Kevin Young’s "Eddie Priest’s Barber Shop and Notary," Garrison Keillor’s "The Anthem," and Harryette Mullen’s "Dim Lady."
Two new cultural and thematic case studies — on the Harlem Renaissance and The World of Work, respectively — draw students in with engaging literature on important topics. Each case study presents a dynamic selection of poems, including Langston Hughes’s "Jazzonia" in the chapter on the Harlem Renaissance and Bob Hicok’s "Calling him back from layoff" in the chapter on work, offering an impressive range of styles and points of view so that every student will find something to relate to. The chapter on the Harlem Renaissance also includes a rich collection of photos and artwork, giving students a fuller understanding of that time period.
Exclusive advice from contemporary poets, direct to students. Brief "When I Read" and "When I Write" comments, written especially for Michael Meyer’s anthologies, give students the opportunity to hear from many notable poets like Mart’n Espada, Susan Minot, Tony Hoagland, and Marilyn Nelson. Lively, varied insights — on reading and writing habits, managing writer’s block, even how to get started as a writer, to name a few — invite your students to join the scene.