Almost 20 years ago the American Academy of Poets was inspired by the success of nationally observed months (think Women’s History Month and Black History Month) and decided it was time for poetry to have its place on the calendar. This year Knopf, the book publisher who we never fails to elevate our intelligence and strengthen our cultural affinity, is celebrating National Poetry Month in a big way–with the release of six works that showcase some of the modern masters of the genre.
Made in Detroit is bestselling poet Marge Piercy’s 19th book of poems. Her latest work is a nod to the world she inhabits from the intimate–growing up poor and her involvement with Judaism–to more universal themes of feminism and environmentalism. In Elegy for a Broken Machine Patrick Phillips offers a gripping collection of elegies that ensconce a son’s lament for his father. The writings bear witness to the human experience in a mournful but praiseful way as they traverse midlife, the aging body, and the loss of life.
James Merrill: Life and Art is the first biography of an exceptional poet whose intriguing life made its way into his written work. Authored by Yale professor Langdon Hammer, the book opens the door to a man unencumbered by having to work for a living (his father founded Merrill Lynch) who was free to make writing poetry his life’s passion. Hammer explores the Merrill’s life from his 40-year relationship with writer David Jackson and his travels to his sources of inspiration.
Also on shelves now is a pair of publications by celebrated writer Jane Hirshfield, a frequent voice on public radio. The Beauty is her latest collection of poems that explores the complexities and quirks of self and life. In Ten Windows: How Great Poems Transform the World, Hirshfield presents ten essays showing readers how poetry “works.” She touches on the mechanics but also how poems make something possible that is outside of our daily reality and how they can expand our notions of humanity.
In addition to books of poems and works that discuss poetry and poets, Knopf is also putting forth a fascinating work of fiction titled Muse by Jonathan Galassi, president and publisher of Farrar, Straus & Giroux. The story details a decades-long rivalry between two major publishing houses over the work of an iconic female poet. It is full of titillating details of the world of publishing packaged in a web of love, ambition and desire.
