122 Contemporary Literature, 1970 to Present
and enact change on personal, social, and political levels. Poets, of course,
take different approaches to connections between poetry and change in
the world. The Black Power poetry of Amiri Baraka and Nikki Giovanni
and feminist poetry of Adrienne Rich and Marge Piercy (and Giovanni)
have helped to expand notions about identity to encompass race, gender,
and sexuality, adding to conversations in politics. Pinsky demonstrates a
broad engagement with the political, especially with questions of civic vir-
tue. Other poets have taken on specific causes. Mark Doty writes to raise
awareness about the AIDS epidemic and gay civil rights, and Ali, about
Kashmir. Other poets have protested war (see Study Guide on Vietnam
War and antiwar literature) and the degradation of the environment (see
John Felstiner and Topic essay on environmental literature). The anthology
An Eye for An Eye Makes the Whole World Blind: Poets on 9/11 (New York:
Regent Press, 2002) offers poems from one hundred different poets working
to better understand the human condition through the lens of such a great
tragedy. Students interested in the relationship between poetry and change
might consider how poetry can indeed raise awareness about social and
political issues. How may it help us grapple with such events as 9/11? How
can poetry help readers think differently about complex questions?RESOURCES
Primary Works
Billy Collins, ed., Poetry 180: A Turning Back to Poetry (New York: Random
House, 2003).
An anthology of contemporary poetry designed to offer a poem a day for the 180
days in the high-school year.
Philip Dacey and David Jauss, eds., Strong Measures: Contemporary American
Poetry in Traditional Forms (New York: Harper & Row, 1986).
An excellent collection of poetry in a wide variety of forms that includes works by
major poets. The book would be extremely helpful to students exploring differing
forms; clear explanations of forms are included.
Gary Mex Glazner, ed., Poetry Slam: The Competitive Art of Performance Poetry
(San Francisco: Manic D Press, 2000).
Anthology of pieces by national poetry slam champions. The book also includes
essays with practical information about organizing a poetry slam and preparation
tips.
Earl G. Ingersoll, Judith Kitch, and Stan Sanyel Ruben, eds., The Post-Confessionals:
Conversations with American Poets of the Eighties (Cranbury, N.J.: Associated
University Presses, 1989).
Interviews with nineteen poets, all of them past participants in the Writers Forum
program at the State University of New York College at Brookport, in which they