The way we view our nation—-its history, its traditions, even our distinctly American voice—-is largely determined by our literature. In this rewarding and thought-provoking book are gathered poems that have been essential components of our common American culture, from the...

What is America? It is fifty states from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific Ocean and beyond. It is a flag of stars and stripes. It is farmers, miners, factory workers, bakers, and bankers. It is Niagara Falls and...

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"Grandmother Anna Belle Lee: 'Chile, they got some of us everywhere.' Thus began my wanderlust."Publishers WeeklyMcElroy is an addict, addicted to travel. In this high-spirited, fresh and beautifully written memoir, the poet (What Madness Brought Me Here) and English professor...

Over the course of her career, Marilyn Nelson Waniek has established herself as a poet of formidable power and range, an achievement that was acknowledged in 1991, when her third book, The Homeplace, was named a finalist for the National...

Mattie's book of poetry, Heartsongs, is a compilation of his early work. It is a soft bound book and includes 20 of his poems and his artwork.Jimmy CarterMattie will inspire readers of all ages with thoughts and images that bring...

On January 20, 2009, Elizabeth Alexander served as the fourth ever inaugural poet and a central participant in one of the most closely watched inaugurations in American history. Selected by Barack Obama, Alexander composed and delivered her original poem "Praise...

"Rita Dove pulls the ultimate dance trick: she makes it look easy."—New York Times Book ReviewThe New York Times - Emily NussbaumFor Dove, dance is an implicit parallel to poetry. Each is an expression of grace performed within limits; each...

IN A CAREER THAT HAS EARNED her accolades, honorary degrees, and awards from both fellow poets and everyday poetry lovers, Nikki Giovanni has established herself as a writer who can entertain and challenge, inform and inspire. Sometimes controversial, sometimes ethereal,...

When Nikki Giovanni's poems first emerged from the Black Rights Movement in the late 1960s, she immediately took a place among the most celebrated and controversial poets of the era. Finally, here is the first compilation of Nikki Giovanni's poetry....