Book Review: *The Poets Laureate Anthology* edited by Elizabeth Hun Schmidt

• The Poets Laureate Anthology edited by Elizabeth Hun Schmidt
• Hardcover: 762 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (October 4, 2010)
• ISBN-13: 978-0393061819

Back-of-the-book blurb: This is the first anthology to gather poems by the forty-three poets laureate of the United States. As a record of poetry, The Poets Laureate Anthology is groundbreaking, charting the course of American poetry over the last seventy-five years, while being, at the same time, a pleasure to read, full of some of the world’s best-known poems and many new surprises. Elizabeth Hun Schmidt has gathered and introduced poems by each of the forty-three poets who have been named our nation’s poets laureate since the post (originally called Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress) was established in 1937.  Schmidt’s spirited introductions place the poets and their poems in historical and literary context and shine light on the interesting and often uneasy relationship between politics and art.

She Is Too Fond of Books’ review: I’ve had an uneasy relationship with poetry.  I was comfortable with poetry in my children’s books – big fans of Shel Silverstein, pretty much any picture book told in rhyme, and a few teen/tween poetry anthologies we’ve enjoyed and reviewed here.

I thought maybe one day I’d take a continuing ed class about poetry – you know, learn what it’s all about, decipher what various poets were really saying in their iconic poems, and “get” the true message.  I realize now that I was over-thinking it.

Yes, there’s a lot that can be learned by studying poets and poetry, by taking in the political climate in which they wrote, and by comparing a poets of one era with another from the same time, or by contrasting him with one from a different situation.  This is true of any author for whom we wish to have a deeper understanding of his work, and his motivation (and motive) for writing.

Here’s what I’ve learned — sometimes a cigar is just a cigar — enjoy it!

Rather than shy away from poetry because I don’t “get” it, I’ve been embracing my inner performer and reading poetry aloud.  Yes, in the privacy of my own home, and generally when no one else is around.  It helps me to hear the rhythms, the sounds, any repetition or pattern or emphasis, to play with the words and hear the difference if a one-syllable word is held for two beats or longer.

It’s quite freeing, and I recommend it for anyone who wants to read poetry, but, like me, might be caught up in not knowing how to read poetry.  Just do it.

One volume I’ve been experimenting with is this lovely book from The Library of Congress, The Poets Laureate Anthology.  The collection, edited by Elizabeth Hun Schmidt, contains biographical information and a sampling of the work of each of the 43 men and women who have held the position of Poet Laureate of the United States.  A black-and-white photo, annotated statement from the poet himself, introduction by Elizabeth Hun Schmidt, and a key “signature” poem for each poet begin each of the sections, which are presented in reverse chronological order.

Here’s where I admit that – prior to reading Schmidt’s introduction and the Foreword by Billy Collins (who held the position for two terms, 2001-2003) – I didn’t know exactly what the Poet Laureate did after he was assigned the position by the President.  Well, it turns out I was more in the dark than I realized! The position of Poet Laureate (called Consultant in Poetry from its inception in 1937 until it was renamed in 1958) is appointed not by the President, but by the Librarian of Congress.  As to what the Poet Laureate does during his one-year term … his only obligation is to read at the start and finish of the Library of Congress’s annual reading series.  Other than that, each poet can define an agenda around his schedule, and what he might see as a need or mission; it’s truly a personal endeavor, with potential far-reaching effect.

Elizabeth Hun Schmidt has included not only the signature piece and other well-known verse of each Laureate, but also lesser-known poems which allow the reader to experience the scope of each poet’s work.  Her introductions to each section include biographical material as well as sharing what the poet accomplished while in office and what was happening in the country (in the world) at that time.  I approached the book by reading (aloud) the key poem and one or two others, then referring back to the introduction to put the work in context.

Like all the Norton anthologies on my shelves, The Poets Laureate Anthology has given me hours of reading pleasure, and will prove itself invaluable as a reference for me and my family.  Our 15-year-old just completed a project on Billy Collins for her Honors English class; she saw his name on the cover of this book, grabbed it from the table, and sat down to read his section of the book, taking in the poems she hadn’t yet studied.  She laughed when she read his “Introduction to Poetry”, recognizing the frustration I had earlier expressed.  I invite you to read “Introduction to Poetry” at this Library of Congress site. Whether or not you find yourself “beating [poetry] with a hose to find out what it really means,” you’ll benefit from this wonderful collection and the edifying framework within which it is presented.