The New American Poets: A Bread Loaf Anthology [Hardcover]

Michael Collier (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Bread Loaf Anthology | Publication Date: March 1, 2000

A stellar collection celebrates the vitality of American poetry at the turn of the century.

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

These new poets are indeed new: almost all of the 54 contributors included in these pages are either under 40 or have published a first book within the past five years. Any anthology of this sort is risky by definition; one would be hard-pressed to count 54 really good American poets in the entire 20th century, much less in the last decade. Predictably, therefore, the quality of the poems varies widely, with the worst offenders too willing to hide behind banalities disguised as insights. But the volume's lovely surprise is that the strong poems far outnumber the weak. In general the writing is suffused with strangeness, originality, and, at times, pure genius. Collier, a poet and professor at the University of Maryland who also directs the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, has done an admirable job of opening the book to a broad range of styles and sensibilities. The result is an anthology that, rather than privileging something called a realist or experimental tradition, shows clearly how these young writers, whose short biographies tell tales of diverse influences and demographics, have embarked on the ambitious project of remapping the boundaries of American poetry itself. From the startling linguistic experiments of D.A. Powell and Mary Jo Bang to the sensitive formalism of Greg Williamson to the cool revelations of Pimone Triplett and Maurice Kilwein Guevara, this writing belies the stereotype of American poetry as moribund, instead making a convincing argument that it is as lively and rich as ever. As Olena Kalytiak Davis writes in Sweet Reader, Flanneled and Tulled, Reader unmov'd and Reader unshaken, Reader unsedc'd / and unterrified, through the long-loud and the sweet-still / I creep toward you. These poets should not have to creep; readers should flock to their vibrant, exciting voices. -- Copyright © 2000 Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Review

Compass by Elizabeth Alexander
Feminist Poem Number One by Elizabeth Alexander
Overture: Watermelon City by Elizabeth Alexander
Washington Etude by Elizabeth Alexander
The Disembodied Voices Of Women by Craig Arnold
My Love Is Sick by Craig Arnold
The Party She Outdid Herself by Craig Arnold
Xx by Craig Arnold
The Constant Bride by Mary Jo Bang
The Dog Bark by Mary Jo Bang
Like A Fire In A Fire by Mary Jo Bang
Louise In Love by Mary Jo Bang
The Star's Whole Secret by Mary Jo Bang
At St. Sulpice by Erin Belieu
My Field Guide by Erin Belieu
Radio Nebraska by Erin Belieu
The Book Of Sharp Silhouettes by Molly Bendall
Fete On The Lake by Molly Bendall
A Painter Of Destinies by Molly Bendall
Dinner In The Sun by Donald Berger
The Language Pile by Donald Berger
The Lincoln Bedroom by Donald Berger
After The Wedding by David Biespiel
Tower by David Biespiel
Under A Blossoming Plum Tree by David Biespiel
Last Night In Havana by Richard Blanco
Letter To El Flaco On His Birthday by Richard Blanco
Shaving by Richard Blanco
The Silver Sands by Richard Blanco
Tia Olivia Serves Wallace Stevens A Cuban Egg by Richard Blanco
I Found Orpheus Levitating by Nick Carbo
Robo by Nick Carbo
Verso Libre by Nick Carbo
Blowing Eggs by Anne Caston
The Burden by Anne Caston
Gathering At The River by Anne Caston
Coming Off A Depression, She Prepares For Venice by A. V. Christie
The Hollywood Finch by A. V. Christie
Overture by A. V. Christie
The Possible Man by A. V. Christie
The 20th Century by Lesley Dauer
Falling by Lesley Dauer
Mammals by Lesley Dauer
The Woman In The Film by Lesley Dauer
In The Clear Long After by Olena Kalytiak Davis
A Small Number by Olena Kalytiak Davis
Sweet Reader, Flanneled And Tulled by Olena Kalytiak Davis
Milagros Mourns The Queen Of Scat by Marisa De Los Santos
Wiglaf by Marisa De Los Santos
Women Watching Basketball by Marisa De Los Santos
Back To Back by Debra Kang Dean
Immigrants by Debra Kang Dean
Stitches by Debra Kang Dean
Taproot by Debra Kang Dean
Practice For Derek Walcott by Thomas Sayers Ellis
Sticks by Thomas Sayers Ellis
Tambourine Tommy by Thomas Sayers Ellis
In The Beginning by Jill Alexander Essbaum
Paradise by Jill Alexander Essbaum
Post-communion Striptease by Jill Alexander Essbaum
When The Kingdom Comes by Jill Alexander Essbaum
Baudelaire's Ablutions by Roger Fanning
Oink As Taunt by Roger Fanning
Parable Of The Boy And The Polar Bear by Roger Fanning
The Space Needle by Roger Fanning
Flowers by Julie Fay
The Mother Of Andromeda by Julie Fay
Santorini Daughter by Julie Fay
Stereograph: 1903 by Julie Fay
Bag Of Mice by Nick Flynn
Cartoon Physics: Part 2 by Nick Flynn
Cartoon Physics: Part I by Nick Flynn
Emptying Town by Nick Flynn
Big Jigsaw by Chris Forhan
The Taste Of Wild Cherry by Chris Forhan
Without Presumptions by Chris Forhan
Divorce And Mr. Circe by David Gewanter
One-page Novel by David Gewanter
Xenia: Stranger/guest by David Gewanter
After The Colombian Earthquake by Maurice Kilwein Guevara
After The Flood by Maurice Kilwein Guevara
The Hands Of The Old Metis by Maurice Kilwein Guevara
Reader Of This Page by Maurice Kilwein Guevara
As Always by James Harms
The Joy Addict by James Harms
Reel Around The Shadow by James Harms
Sky by James Harms
Chalazion by Allison Joseph
Reading Room by Allison Joseph
Searching For Melinda's Magic Moment by Allison Joseph
Teenage Interplanetary Vixens Run Wild On Bikini Beach by Allison Joseph
Grace by Laura K. Kasischke
Oven by Laura K. Kasischke
Please by Laura K. Kasischke
Mt. Pisgah by James Kimbrell
Self-portrait, Jackson by James Kimbrell
A Slow Night On Texas Street by James Kimbrell
True Descenders by James Kimbrell
Impetus by Mary Leader
Madrigal by Mary Leader
Portrait: 'fritz Kreisler' by Mary Leader
Skin by Mary Leader
As My Cat Eats The Head Of A Field Mouse He Has Caught by M Loncar
Kentucky by M Loncar
One Night America: A Boy And His Blowtorch by M Loncar
Peoria by M Loncar
Learning Window by James Longenbach
Undiscovered Country: 1. The Return by James Longenbach
Undiscovered Country: 2. Walking Upright by James Longenbach
Undiscovered Country: 3. Remains To Be Seen by James Longenbach
Undiscovered Country: 4. Lying Down by James Longenbach
Undiscovered Country: 5. Ascension by James Longenbach
What You Find In The Woods by James Longenbach
Camera Obscura by Valerie Martinez
Ever So, Between by Valerie Martinez
Cricket Mountain by Khaled Mattawa
Heartsong by Khaled Mattawa
Ismailia by Khaled Mattawa
White Nile Elegy by Khaled Mattawa
Collage by Shara Mccallum
The Deer by Shara Mccallum
Fugue by Shara Mccallum
In The Beginning by Shara Mccallum
Capitalist Poem: 36 by Campbell Mcgrath
Florida by Campbell Mcgrath
The Florida Anasazi by Campbell Mcgrath
Jack Gilbert by Campbell Mcgrath
Jeffrey Lee Pierce by Campbell Mcgrath
However by Jane Mead
Incomplete Scenario Involving What The Voice Said by Jane Mead
Point And Counter-point In All Things by Jane Mead
Sometimes The Mind by Jane Mead
Gambier by Joe Osterhaus
Pepper by Joe Osterhaus
Shall We Dance by Joe Osterhaus
Abandoning All Pretense, The Vandals by Alan Michael Parker
After The Poem Who Knows by Alan Michael Parker
Vandals In The Garden by Alan Michael Parker
Vandals, Horses by Alan Michael Parker
Chamber Music by Carl Phillips
Little Dance Outside The Ruins Of Unreason by Carl Phillips
Recumbent by Carl Phillips
How His Body Stood Against A Thicket. Rich In Hardwood Gentry by D. A. Powell
Ode by D. A. Powell
What Direction Will You Take When The Universe Collapses. You Who by D. A. Powell
Who Won't Praise Green. Each Minute To Caress Each Minute Blade Of by D. A. Powell
Proximity Of Clock To Lock by Claudia Rankine
Proximity Of Inner To In Her by Claudia Rankine
Proximity Of Stuck To Tuck by Claudia Rankine
My Train by Barbara Ras
Pregnant Poets Swim Lake Tarleton, New Hampshire by Barbara Ras
The Sadness Of Couples by Barbara Ras
The Sadness Of Memory by Barbara Ras
How Fast by Martha Rhodes
It Being Forbidden by Martha Rhodes
Through Clouds, Their Whispers by Martha Rhodes
How Late Desire Looks by Katrina Roberts
Postcard From The Coast by Katrina Roberts
Childhood Stories by Matt Rohrer
Comet by Matt Rohrer
Precision German Craftsmanship by Matt Rohrer
Starfish Waving To Me From The Sand by Matt Rohrer
Acts Of Love by Edgar Silex
Departure by Edgar Silex
Elegy by Edgar Silex
The Gift by Edgar Silex
Mengele Shitting: 1. Taking My Name by Jason Sommer
Mengele Shitting: 2. My Father Concentrates On His Luck by Jason Sommer
Mengele Shitting: 3. Speaking Of The Lost by Jason Sommer
Mengele Shitting: 4. Lilly, Reparations by Jason Sommer
We, Sels. by Juliana Spahr
Four Sonnets About Food by Adrienne Su
I Can't Become A Buddhist by Adrienne Su
Wedding Gifts by Adrienne Su
At The Egyptian Exhibit by Daniel Tobin
Deep Shit by Daniel Tobin
Floor Scrapers by Daniel Tobin
The Hunt-cup by Daniel Tobin
Butane, Kerosene, Gasoline by Ann Townsend
Institutional Blue by Ann Townsend
Night Watch In The Laboratory by Ann Townsend
The Shirt Collar by Ann Townsend
Comings And Goings by Pimone Triplett
Fractal Audition by Pimone Triplett
Manora by Pimone Triplett
Winter Swim by Pimone Triplett
Daughter-mother-maya-seeta by Reetika Vazirani
Dream Of The Evil Servant by Reetika Vazirani
E-mail by Reetika Vazirani
Maya To Herself And Then To Her Gardener by Reetika Vazirani
Create Desire by Karen Volkman
Untitled by Karen Volkman
Untitled by Karen Volkman
Untitled by Karen Volkman
Dissidence by Anthony Walton
Third Shift by Anthony Walton
As Hour And Year Collapsed by Joe Wenderoth
Billy's Famous Lounge by Joe Wenderoth
First Impression by Joe Wenderoth
Moon River by Joe Wenderoth
My Life by Joe Wenderoth
Bodies Of Water by Greg Williamson
Kites At The Washington Monument by Greg Williamson
On His Birthday by Greg Williamson
Origami by Greg Williamson
Chapel Of The Miraculous Medal by Mark Wunderlich
Difficult Body by Mark Wunderlich
On Opening by Mark Wunderlich
Simplify Your Combination Therapy by Mark Wunderlich
-- Table of Poems from Poem Finder®

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 302 pages
• Publisher: Bread Loaf Writers' Conference/Middlebury (March 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874519632
• ISBN-13: 978-0874519631
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,898,324 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A treasure chest for the poetry lover, December 18, 2000

By 

Matthew Cheney (New Hampton, NH USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The New American Poets: A Bread Loaf Anthology (Paperback)

You probably haven't heard of any of the poets collected in this exciting anthology. That's okay. They publish their poems in little literary journals and their books are mostly published by obscure presses. Most of these poets haven't published more than one book. I'm pretty familiar with contemporary poetry, but the majority of the writers collected here were unknown names to me.

Now I know their names, and better than that, I know their poems. My life is fuller, and I'm grateful to Michael Collier for creating such a diverse and vibrant collection. There is truly something for just about everyone here, from the lover of the bizarre and experimental to the traditionalist yearning for poets who know what meter is (there's not much rhyming, though).

Where do you start with a book like this? You could just dip in somewhere at random and see what you find; with this collection, you're probably going to pull out a moment of wonder no matter which page you flip to. If you've got to start somewhere, check out Olena Kalytiak Davis -- she's one of the most amazing poets alive, I think, and Collier has collected some brilliant recent work which didn't make it into her book And Her Soul Out of Nothing. But maybe you prefer something a little less daring for your first try -- check out the amusing, thought-provoking poems by Roger Fanning, written with perfectly accessible diction and syntax. You'd certainly like the poems by Richard Blanco, for I've shown his work to a number of very different people, all of whom liked it very much. If you want something which makes you feel like you're really reading cutting-edge poetry, check out D.A. Powell -- you'll have to hold the book sideways to read his poems. Don't miss Nick Flynn's "Bag of Mice" or Adrienne Su's "I Can't Become a Buddhist", or Campbell McGrath's wonderful "Capitalist Poem #36", which begins, "We've got this cheese down here to give away,/ tens of thousands of pounds of cheese."

The New American Poets was published in celebration of the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference's 75th anniversary, and I can't think of a better tribute to the conference which has played such an important role in the lives of many of the greatest poets in the U.S. than this anthology, a wonderful gift to all readers of poetry.