20th century poets, J - N
Laura (Riding) Jackson
At the official Web site administered by her estate, you can read selected poems & stories from her books, including an excerpt from Rational Meaning & her poem, “Nor Is It Written.” Her papers are archived at the Cornell University Library.
At the official Web site administered by her estate, you can read selected poems & stories from her books, including an excerpt from Rational Meaning & her poem, “Nor Is It Written.” Her papers are archived at the Cornell University Library.
Josephine Jacobsen
Jacobsen described herself as “a short-range pessimist and a long-range optimist,” served as Poetry Consultant to the U.S. Library of Congress (old title for Poet Laureate) in the 1970's, and died in 2003 at the age of 94.
Jacobsen described herself as “a short-range pessimist and a long-range optimist,” served as Poetry Consultant to the U.S. Library of Congress (old title for Poet Laureate) in the 1970's, and died in 2003 at the age of 94.
Jane Kenyon
Wonderful poet who died too young (but not before writing that most lovely & enduring prayer, “Let Evening Come”), Jane Kenyon has since been eloquently memorialized by her husband Donald Hall -- see Life at Eagle Pond, an online exhibit about their life together from the University of New Hampshire’s Special Collections. Several of her poems are also at Mark Mosko’s Secret Poem Page.
Wonderful poet who died too young (but not before writing that most lovely & enduring prayer, “Let Evening Come”), Jane Kenyon has since been eloquently memorialized by her husband Donald Hall -- see Life at Eagle Pond, an online exhibit about their life together from the University of New Hampshire’s Special Collections. Several of her poems are also at Mark Mosko’s Secret Poem Page.
Philip Larkin
Philip Larkin was a hard-edged, unsparing common-language poet of everyday life & death, known for lines like “They fuck you up, your mum and dad” (from “This Be the Verse”). Larkin was chosen in a 2003 reader’s poll as Britain’s favorite poet of the last 50 years.
Philip Larkin was a hard-edged, unsparing common-language poet of everyday life & death, known for lines like “They fuck you up, your mum and dad” (from “This Be the Verse”). Larkin was chosen in a 2003 reader’s poll as Britain’s favorite poet of the last 50 years.
Denise Levertov
Levertov is among the most revered & listened to American poets, activist, feminist, avant-garde. In the RealAudio recording of “Tenebrae” from the Norton Poetry Workshop CD-rom, her voice & her poem have both sweetness & bite.
Levertov is among the most revered & listened to American poets, activist, feminist, avant-garde. In the RealAudio recording of “Tenebrae” from the Norton Poetry Workshop CD-rom, her voice & her poem have both sweetness & bite.
d.a. levy
Light & Dust Poets hosts the d.a. levy pages, where you can view his Tibetan Stroboscope & lexical poems like “roses that” & selections from North American Book of the Dead.
Light & Dust Poets hosts the d.a. levy pages, where you can view his Tibetan Stroboscope & lexical poems like “roses that” & selections from North American Book of the Dead.
Federico García Lorca
García Lorca was Spain’s most important poet & dramatist of the 20th century, whose work is still beloved for its passion, pride, love & death -- in his word, duende. He was murdered by Nationalist soldiers at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War in 1936.
García Lorca was Spain’s most important poet & dramatist of the 20th century, whose work is still beloved for its passion, pride, love & death -- in his word, duende. He was murdered by Nationalist soldiers at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War in 1936.
Audre Lorde
Audre Lorde was a woman writer of color who combined the personal and the political with exceptional skill. She died in 1992 after a long battle with cancer. Poems like “Coal” will live as this strong woman’s loving legacy. You can experience some of that legacy at the site for A Litany for Survival, the documentary film made about her.
Audre Lorde was a woman writer of color who combined the personal and the political with exceptional skill. She died in 1992 after a long battle with cancer. Poems like “Coal” will live as this strong woman’s loving legacy. You can experience some of that legacy at the site for A Litany for Survival, the documentary film made about her.
Michael McNeilley
Until his untimely death in July 2000, McNeilley was co-editor of Zero City. His “things to do when you’re dead” is both hilarious & eloquent.
Until his untimely death in July 2000, McNeilley was co-editor of Zero City. His “things to do when you’re dead” is both hilarious & eloquent.
Jack Micheline
The late Jack Micheline... “painter, poet, the guy next to you at the bar, boho, true spirit, grizzled guzzler of all U.S. could offer, pappy, sappy, smart sass and free-flow po...” His voice will be missed, but you can still read some of his poems online at the Lucid Moon tribute page.
The late Jack Micheline... “painter, poet, the guy next to you at the bar, boho, true spirit, grizzled guzzler of all U.S. could offer, pappy, sappy, smart sass and free-flow po...” His voice will be missed, but you can still read some of his poems online at the Lucid Moon tribute page.
Pablo Neruda
Pablo Neruda (1904 - 1973) was a Nobel laureate, diplomat, exile and returned native son of Chile, the most respected and beloved Latin American poet, often called “the people’s poet.”
Pablo Neruda (1904 - 1973) was a Nobel laureate, diplomat, exile and returned native son of Chile, the most respected and beloved Latin American poet, often called “the people’s poet.”
Pablo Neruda
Neruda poems put into English by such translators as William O’Daly and Robert Bly are at AAP. You can also read his work in English translation online in the Feb 1999 & Jan 2000 issues of Poetry, at Patricio Mason’s site, and selected from the centennial book of new translations, The Essential Neruda. Original Spanish texts are at the University of Chile’s comprehensive Neruda site.
Neruda poems put into English by such translators as William O’Daly and Robert Bly are at AAP. You can also read his work in English translation online in the Feb 1999 & Jan 2000 issues of Poetry, at Patricio Mason’s site, and selected from the centennial book of new translations, The Essential Neruda. Original Spanish texts are at the University of Chile’s comprehensive Neruda site.
bpNichol
bpNichol, a simply complexly superb Canadian poet and performer, died 12 years ago & is sorely missed. His outrageous suite, Translating Translating Apollinaire is on Karl Young's Light & Dust site.
bpNichol, a simply complexly superb Canadian poet and performer, died 12 years ago & is sorely missed. His outrageous suite, Translating Translating Apollinaire is on Karl Young's Light & Dust site.
Lorine Niedecker
She was the only woman considered a member of the Objectivist poets. “The wild and wavy event / now chintz at the window / was revolution...” begins one of her wildly political works, from her book The Granite Pail (Gnomon Press, 1996). Read more about her at Modern American Poetry & at Taverner’s Koans.
She was the only woman considered a member of the Objectivist poets. “The wild and wavy event / now chintz at the window / was revolution...” begins one of her wildly political works, from her book The Granite Pail (Gnomon Press, 1996). Read more about her at Modern American Poetry & at Taverner’s Koans.