Sample Unit for
Modern American Poetry
MODERN AMERICAN POETRY
The Great Books Foundation
:ghgikh_bm^]n\ZmbhgZehk`ZgbsZmbhg
MODERN AMERICAN POETRY
;EPX;LMXQER (1819–1892)
6SFIVX'VIIPI]
(1926–)
)QMP](MGOMRWSR (1830–1886)
%PPIR+MRWFIVK
(1926–1997)
)HKEV0II1EWXIVW (1868–1950)
*VERO3«,EVE
(1926–1966)
)H[MR%VPMRKXSR6SFMRWSR (1869–1935)
.EQIW;VMKLX
(1927–1980)
4EYP0EYVIRGI(YRFEV (1872–1906)
(SREPH,EPP
(1928–)
6SFIVX*VSWX (1874–1963)
%RRI7I\XSR
;EPPEGI7XIZIRW (1879–1955)
%HVMIRRI6MGL
(1929–)
;MPPMEQ'EVPSW;MPPMEQW (1883–1963)
+EV]7R]HIV
(1930–)
,( (1886–1961)
7]PZME4PEXL
(1932–1963)
87)PMSX (1888–1965)
1EVO7XVERH
(1934–)
))'YQQMRKW (1894–1962)
6MGLEVH&VEYXMKER
,EVX'VERI (1899–1932)
1EVKI4MIVG]
(1936–)
0ERKWXSR,YKLIW (1902–1967)
1MGLEIP7,EVTIV
(1938–)
8LISHSVI6SIXLOI (1908–1963)
=YWIJ/SQYR]EOEE
(1947–)
)PM^EFIXL&MWLST (1911–1979)
0MRHE,SKER
(1947–)
6SFIVX,E]HIR (1913–1980)
6E]%=SYRK&IEV
(1950–)
6ERHEPP.EVVIPP (1914–1965)
6MXE(SZI
(1952–)
;MPPMEQ7XEJJSVH (1914–1993)
2ESQM7LMLEF2]I
(1952–)
+[IRHSP]R&VSSOW (1917–2000)
+EV]7SXS
(1952–)
(IRMWI0IZIVXSZ (1923–1997)
.ERI,MVWLJMIPH
(1953–)
.SLR0SKER (1923–1987)
1EVXuR)WTEHE
(1957–)
(1928–1974)
(1935–1984)
(SREPH.YWXMGI
(1925–)
0M¦=SYRK0II
(1957–)
1E\MRI/YQMR
(1925–)
+IVV]'VMRRMR
(1958–)
6SFIVX&P]
(1926–)
MODERN AMERICAN POETRY
selected and edited by
Joseph Coulson
Peter Temes
Jim Baldwin
English department chair
Marin Academy
Published by the Great Books Foundation
:ghgikh_bm^]n\ZmbhgZehk`ZgbsZmbhg
ÇJ^[H[ZM^[[bXWhhem"ÈÇJ^[=h[Wj<_]kh["ÈWdZÇJ^_i_i@kijjeIWoÈXo
M_bb_Wc9WhbeiM_bb_Wci"\hec9EBB;9J;:FE;CI0'/&/#'/)/"
LEBKC;?"Yefoh_]^j'/).XoD[m:_h[Yj_ediFkXb_i^_d]9ehf$
H[fh_dj[ZXof[hc_ii_ede\D[m:_h[Yj_ediFkXb_i^_d]9ehf$
3
about the great books foundation
What is the Great Books Foundation?
J^[=h[Wj8eeai<ekdZWj_ed_iWd_dZ[f[dZ[dj"dedfhe\_j
[ZkYWj_edWbeh]Wd_pWj_edm^ei[c_ii_ed_ije^[bff[efb[b[Whd
^emjej^_daWdZi^Wh[_Z[Wi$JemWhZj^_i[dZ"j^[<ekdZWj_ed
e\\[himehai^efi_dI^Wh[Z?dgk_hoZ_iYkii_edWdZfkXb_i^[i
Yebb[Yj_edie\YbWii_YWdZceZ[hdj[nji\ehXej^Y^_bZh[d
WdZWZkbji$
J^[=h[Wj8eeai<ekdZWj_edmWi[ijWXb_i^[Z_d'/*-jefhecej[
b_X[hWb[ZkYWj_ed\ehj^[][d[hWbfkXb_Y$?d'/,("j^[<ekdZWj_ed
[nj[dZ[Z_jic_ii_edjeY^_bZh[dm_j^j^[_djheZkYj_ede\@kd_eh
=h[Wj8eeai$I_dY[_ji_dY[fj_ed"j^[<ekdZWj_ed^Wi^[bf[Z
j^ekiWdZie\f[efb[j^hek]^ekjj^[Kd_j[ZIjWj[iWdZ_dej^[h
Yekdjh_[iX[]_dj^[_hemdZ_iYkii_ed]hekfi_diY^eebi"b_XhWh_[i"
WdZYecckd_joY[dj[hi$JeZWo"<ekdZWj_ed_dijhkYjehiYedZkYj
^kdZh[Zie\mehai^efi[WY^o[Wh"_dm^_Y^[ZkYWjehiWdZ
fWh[djib[Whdjeb[WZI^Wh[Z?dgk_hoZ_iYkii_ed$
What resources are available to support my participation
in shared inquiry?
J^[=h[Wj8eeai<ekdZWj_ede\\[himehai^efi_dI^Wh[Z?dgk_ho
je^[bff[efb[][jj^[ceij\hecZ_iYkii_ed$FWhj_Y_fWdjib[Whd
^emjeh[WZWYj_l[bo"fei[\hk_j\kbgk[ij_edi"WdZb_ij[dWdZ
h[ifedZjeej^[hi[\\[Yj_l[bo_dZ_iYkii_ed$7bbfWhj_Y_fWdjiWbie
fhWYj_Y[b[WZ_d]WZ_iYkii_edWdZ^Wl[Wdeffehjkd_jojeh[\b[Yjed
j^[fheY[iim_j^ej^[hi$<ehceh[_d\ehcWj_edWXekj=h[Wj8eeai
cWj[h_Wbiehmehai^efi"YWbbj^[=h[Wj8eeai<ekdZWj_edWj
'#.&&#(((#+.-&ehl_i_jekhM[Xi_j[Wjmmm$]h[WjXeeai$eh]$
4
H
ABOUT SHARED INQUIRY
I^Wh[Z?dgk_ho_ij^[[\\ehjjeWY^_[l[Wceh[j^ehek]^kdZ[hijWdZ_d]e\W
j[njXoZ_iYkii_d]gk[ij_edi"h[ifedi[i"WdZ_di_]^jim_j^ej^[hi$<ehXej^
j^[ b[WZ[h WdZ j^[ fWhj_Y_fWdji" YWh[\kb b_ij[d_d] _i [ii[dj_Wb$ J^[ b[WZ[h
]k_Z[ij^[Z_iYkii_edXoWia_d]gk[ij_ediWXekjif[Y_\_Y_Z[WiWdZfheX#
b[cie\c[Wd_d]_dj^[j[nj"XkjZe[ideji[[aje_cfei[^_ieh^[hemd
_dj[hfh[jWj_ededj^[]hekf$
:kh_d] W I^Wh[Z ?dgk_ho Z_iYkii_ed" ]hekf c[cX[hi Yedi_Z[h W
dkcX[he\feii_Xb[_Z[WiWdZm[_]^j^[[l_Z[dY[\eh[WY^$?Z[Wij^WjWh[
[dj[hjW_d[ZWdZj^[dh[\_d[ZehWXWdZed[ZWh[dejj^ek]^je\Wic_ijWa[i"
XkjWilWbkWXb[fWhjie\j^[j^_da_d]fheY[ii$=hekfc[cX[hi]W_d[nf[h_#
[dY[ _d Yecckd_YWj_d] Yecfb[n _Z[Wi WdZ _d ikffehj_d]" j[ij_d]" WdZ
[nfWdZ_d]j^[_hj^ek]^ji$;l[hoed[_dj^[]hekfYedjh_Xkj[ijej^[Z_iYki#
i_ed"WdZm^_b[fWhj_Y_fWdjicWoZ_iW]h[[m_j^[WY^ej^[h"j^[ojh[Wj[WY^
ej^[hÊi_Z[Wih[if[Yj\kbbo$
J^_ifheY[iie\YecckdWbZ_iYel[ho_il_jWbjeZ[l[bef_d]WdkdZ[h#
ijWdZ_d]e\_cfehjWdjj[njiWdZ_Z[Wi"hWj^[hj^Wdc[h[boYWjWbe]_d]ademb#
[Z][WXekjj^[c$8oh[WZ_d]WdZj^_da_d]je][j^[hWXekj_cfehjWdjmehai"
oekWdZj^[ej^[hc[cX[hie\oekh]hekfWh[`e_d_d]W]h[WjYedl[hiWj_ed
j^Wj[nj[dZiWYheiij^[Y[djkh_[i$
5
a b out sh are d i nqui ry
Guidelines for Leading and Participating in Discussion
El[hj^[fWij\_\joo[Whi"j^[=h[Wj8eeai<ekdZWj_ed^WiZ[l[bef[Z]k_Z[#
b_d[i j^Wj Z_ij_bb j^[ [nf[h_[dY[ e\ cWdo Z_iYkii_ed ]hekfi" m_j^ fWhj_Y_#
fWdjie\WbbW][i$M[^Wl[\ekdZj^Wjm^[d]hekfi\ebbemj^[fheY[Zkh[i
ekjb_d[ZX[bem"Z_iYkii_ediWh[ceij\eYki[ZWdZ\hk_j\kb$
Read the selection before participating in the discussion.
J^_i[dikh[ij^WjWbbfWhj_Y_fWdjiWh[[gkWbbofh[fWh[ZjejWba
WXekjj^[_Z[Wi_dj^[meha"WdZ^[bfifh[l[djjWbaj^Wj
mekbZZ_ijhWYjj^[]hekf\hec_jifkhfei[$
Support your ideas with evidence from the text.J^_ia[[fij^[
Z_iYkii_ed\eYki[ZedkdZ[hijWdZ_d]j^[i[b[Yj_edWdZ[dWXb[ij^[
]hekfjem[_]^j[njkWbikffehj\ehZ_\\[h[djWdim[hiWdZjeY^eei[
_dj[bb_][djboWced]j^[c$
Discuss the ideas in the selection, and try to understand them
fully before exploring issues that go beyond the selection.H[\b[Yj_d]edW
hWd][e\_Z[WiWdZj^[[l_Z[dY[jeikffehjj^[ccWa[ij^[[nfbehWj_ed
e\h[bWj[Z_iik[iceh[fheZkYj_l[$
L
isten to others and respond to them directly.I^Wh[Z?dgk_ho_i
WXekjj^[]_l[#WdZ#jWa[e\_Z[Wi"Wm_bb_d]d[iijeb_ij[djeej^[hiWdZje
jWbajej^[ch[if[Yj\kbbo$:_h[Yj_d]oekhYecc[djiWdZgk[ij_edije
ej^[h]hekfc[cX[hi"dejWbmWoijej^[b[WZ[h"m_bbcWa[j^[Z_iYkii_ed
b_l[b_[hWdZceh[ZodWc_Y$
Expect the leader to ask questions, rather than answer them.
J^[b[WZ[h_iWa_dZe\Y^_[\b[Whd[h"m^ei[heb[_ijea[[f
Z_iYkii_ed[\\[Yj_l[WdZ_dj[h[ij_d]Xob_ij[d_d]WdZWia_d]
gk[ij_edi$J^[b[WZ[hÊi]eWb_ije^[bfj^[fWhj_Y_fWdjiZ[l[befj^[_h
emd_Z[Wi"m_j^[l[hoed[j^[b[WZ[h_dYbkZ[Z]W_d_d]W
d[mkdZ[hijWdZ_d]_dj^[fheY[ii$M^[dfWhj_Y_fWdji^Wd]XWYaWdZ
mW_j\ehj^[b[WZ[hjeik]][ijWdim[hi"Z_iYkii_ed\Wbj[hi$
6
a b o u t s h a r e d i n q u i ry
How to Make Discussions More Effective
Ask questions when something is unclear.I_cfboWia_d]
iec[ed[je[nfbW_dm^Wj^[ehi^[c[WdiXoWfWhj_YkbWhmehZ"
ehjeh[f[WjWYecc[dj"YWd]_l[[l[hoed[_dj^[]hekfj_c[
jej^_daWXekjj^[_Z[W_dZ[fj^$
Ask for evidence.7ia_d]ÇM^Wj_dj^[j[nj]Wl[oekj^Wj_Z[W5È
^[bfi[l[hoed[X[jj[hkdZ[hijWdZj^[h[Wied_d]X[^_dZWdWdim[h"WdZ
_jWbbemij^[]hekfjeYedi_Z[hm^_Y^_Z[Wi^Wl[j^[X[ijikffehj$
Ask for agreement and disagreement.Ç:e[ioekh_Z[WW]h[[
m_j^^[hi"eh_i_jZ_\\[h[dj5ÈGk[ij_edie\j^_ia_dZ^[bfj^[]hekf
kdZ[hijWdZ^em_Z[WiWh[h[bWj[ZehZ_ij_dYj$
Reflect on discussion afterward.I^Wh_d]Yecc[djiWXekj^em
j^[Z_iYkii_edm[djWdZ_Z[Wi\eh_cfhel[c[djYWdcWa[[WY^
Z_iYkii_edX[jj[hj^Wdj^[bWij$
Room Arrangement and Group Size
?Z[Wbbo"[l[hoed[_dWZ_iYkii_edi^ekbZX[WXb[jei[[WdZ^[Wh[l[hoed[
[bi[$M^[d_j_idÊjfeii_Xb[jeWhhWd][j^[i[Wj_d]_dWY_hYb[eh^ehi[i^e["
[dYekhW][ ]hekf c[cX[hi je beea Wj j^[ f[hied jWba_d]" WYademb[Z]_d]
ed[Wdej^[hWdZdej`kijj^[b[WZ[h$
?d][d[hWb"I^Wh[Z?dgk_hoZ_iYkii_ed_iceij[\\[Yj_l[_d]hekfie\
j[d je jm[djo fWhj_Y_fWdji$ ?\ W ]hekf _i ckY^ X_]][h j^Wd jm[djo" _j _i
_cfehjWdj je [dikh[ j^Wj [l[hoed[ ^Wi W Y^WdY[ je if[Wa$ J^_i YWd X[
WYYecfb_i^[Z[_j^[hXoZ_l_Z_d]j^[]hekf_d^Wb\\ehZ_iYkii_edehXoi[j#
j_d]Wi_Z[j_c[Wjj^[[dZe\Z_iYkii_edje]eWhekdZj^[heecWdZ]_l[
[WY^f[hiedWY^WdY[jecWa[WXh_[\\_dWbYecc[dj$
7
H
HOW TO READ A POEM
R[WZ_d]fe[jhom[bb_ifWhjWjj_jkZ[WdZfWhjj[Y^d_gk[$9kh_ei_jo_iWki[\kb
Wjj_jkZ["[if[Y_Wbbom^[d_jÊi\h[[e\fh[YedY[_l[Z_Z[WiWXekjm^Wjfe[jho_i
ehi^ekbZX[$;\\[Yj_l[j[Y^d_gk[Z_h[YjioekhYkh_ei_jo_djeWia_d]gk[i#
j_edi"ZhWm_d]oek_djeWYedl[hiWj_edm_j^j^[fe[c$
?d=h[Wj8eeaifhe]hWci"j^[]eWbe\YWh[\kbh[WZ_d]_ie\j[djejWa[
kfWgk[ij_ede\c[Wd_d]"Wd_dj[hfh[j_l[gk[ij_edj^Wj^Wiceh[j^Wded[
Wdim[h$I_dY[j^[\ehce\Wfe[c_ifWhje\_jic[Wd_d]\eh[nWcfb["\[W#
jkh[iikY^Wih[f[j_j_edWdZh^oc[cWoWcfb_\oeh[nj[dZj^[c[Wd_d]e\
WmehZeh_Z[W"WZZ_d][cf^Wi_i"j[njkh["ehZ_c[di_ed"m[X[b_[l[j^Wj
gk[ij_edi WXekj \ehc WdZ j[Y^d_gk[" WXekj j^[ eXi[hlWXb[ \[Wjkh[i e\ W
fe[c"fhel_Z[Wd[\\[Yj_l[fe_dje\[djho\eh_dj[hfh[jWj_ed$JeWiaiec[e\
j^[i[gk[ij_edi"oekÊbbd[[ZjeZ[l[befW]eeZ[Wh\ehj^[cki_YWbgkWb_j_[i
e\ bWd]kW][" fWhj_YkbWhbo ^em iekdZ WdZ h^oj^c h[bWj[ je c[Wd_d]$ J^_i
WffheWY^_ied[e\cWdomWoi_djeWfe[c$
8
h o w to r e a d a p o e m
Talking Back to a Poem
?jmekbZX[Yedl[d_[dj_\j^[h[m[h[Wi^ehjb_ije\kd_l[hiWbgk[ij_edi"ed[i
j^WjYekbZX[ki[ZWdoj_c[m_j^Wdofe[c$?dj^[WXi[dY[e\ikY^Wb_ij"
^[h[ Wh[ W \[m ][d[hWb gk[ij_edi j^Wj oek ]YWXd Wia m^[d WffheWY^_d] W
fe[c\ehj^[\_hijj_c[$
M^e_ij^[if[Wa[h5
M^WjY_hYkcijWdY[i]Wl[h_i[jej^[fe[c5
M^Wji_jkWj_ed_ifh[i[dj[Z5
M^eehm^Wj_ij^[WkZ_[dY[5
M^Wj_ij^[jed[5
M^Wj\ehc"_\Wdo"Ze[ij^[fe[cjWa[5
>em_i\ehch[bWj[ZjeYedj[dj5
?iiekdZWd_cfehjWdj"WYj_l[[b[c[dje\j^[fe[c5
:e[ij^[fe[cifh_d]\hecWd_Z[dj_\_WXb[^_ijeh_YWbcec[dj5
:e[ij^[fe[cif[Wa\hecWif[Y_\_YYkbjkh[5
:e[ij^[fe[c^Wl[_jiemdl[hdWYkbWh5
:e[ij^[fe[cki[_cW][hojeWY^_[l[WfWhj_YkbWh[\\[Yj5
M^Wja_dZe\\_]khWj_l[bWd]kW]["_\Wdo"Ze[ij^[fe[cki[5
?\j^[fe[c_iWgk[ij_ed"m^Wj_ij^[Wdim[h5
?\j^[fe[c_iWdWdim[h"m^Wj_ij^[gk[ij_ed5
M^WjZe[ij^[j_jb[ik]][ij5
:e[ij^[fe[cki[kdkikWbmehZiehki[mehZi_dWdkdkikWbmWo5
OekYWd\WbbXWYaedj^[i[gk[ij_ediWid[[Z[Z"Xkj[nf[h_[dY[ik]#
][ijij^Wji_dY[[WY^fe[c_ikd_gk["ikY^gk[ij_edim_bbdej]ej^[d[Y[i#
iWhoZ_ijWdY[$?dcWdo_dijWdY[i"adem_d]m^ej^[if[Wa[h_icWodejo_[bZ
Wdoki[\kb_d\ehcWj_ed$J^[h[cWoX[de_Z[dj_\_WXb[eYYWi_edj^Wj_dif_h[Z
j^[fe[c$8kjfe[ciZee\\[hYbk[iWXekjm^[h[jeijWhj$7ia_d]gk[ij_edi
WXekjj^[eXi[hlWXb[\[Wjkh[ie\Wfe[cm_bb^[bfoek\_dZWmWo_d$
F
9
how to re ad a poe m
M[Êbb dem Xh_d] _dgk_ho je X[Wh ed ÇJ^[ H[Z M^[[bXWhhem"È Xo M_bb_Wc
9WhbeiM_bb_Wci$J^[^WdZmh_jj[ddej[ih[fh[i[djgk[ij_edij^WjeYYkhh[Z
jej^[h[WZ[h"gk[ij_edij^WjYWdX[ki[Zje_dl[ij_]Wj[j^[fe[cÊi\ehcWdZ
c[Wd_d]$:_\\[h[djh[WZ[him_bbWiaZ_\\[h[djgk[ij_ediWXekjj^[fe[ci$
T HE R E D WH E E LBAR R OW
ieckY^Z[f[dZi
kfed
Wh[Zm^[[b
XWhhem
]bWp[Zm_j^hW_d
mWj[h
X[i_Z[j^[m^_j[
Y^_Ya[di
J^_i fe[c YWd X[ _d\kh_Wj_d] X[YWki[ _j Wff[Whi ie ]k_b[b[ii WdZ
i_cfb_ij_Y$J^[fheXb[c_ij^WjoekYWdÊjjWa[Wdoj^_d]\eh]hWdj[Z"dej[l[d
i_cfb_Y_jo$
M^Wj Wh[ j^[ \_hij j^_d]i oek dej_Y[ WXekj j^[ fe[c5 8[]_d m_j^
m^Wjoekadem"ehm^Wjoekj^_daoekadem$<_hij"j^[fe[c_iWhhWd][Z_d
\W_hbo Yedi_ij[dj b_d[i$ J^[ \ekh kd_ji e\ j^[ fe[c beea iec[m^Wj Wb_a[$
J^[h[_idÊjWdofkdYjkWj_ed[_j^[h$M^WjmWij^[fe[jÊi_dj[dj_ed5MWij^[
i^Wf[WdWYY_Z[dje\j^[fe[jÊiZ[iYh_fj_l[ijob[5MWij^[bWYae\fkdYjkW#
j_edWdel[hi_]^j5MWij^[fe[jX[_d]YWh[b[iiehbWpo5MWi_ij^Wj^[`kij
YekbZdÊjj^_dae\WdoX[jj[hmehZi5M^o_ij^_ife[ciem[bbademd"ie
h[if[Yj[Z"iem[bbb_a[Z5
:[d_i[B[l[hjel"_dÇIec[Dej[iedEh]Wd_Y<ehc"ÈiWoiÇj^[h[_iW
\ehc_dWbbj^_d]iWdZ_dekh[nf[h_[dY[m^_Y^j^[fe[jYWdZ_iYel[hWdZ
10
h o w to r e a d a p o e m
h[l[Wb$È8kj^emZe[iWfe[jcWa[j^_iZ_iYel[ho5Ed[mWo_ijefWoYbei[
Wjj[dj_edjej^[iekdZWdZcel[c[dje\j^[\_hijmehZiehb_d[ij^WjX[]_d
j^[WYje\mh_j_d]"_dm^_Y^j^[eX`[Yj"ceeZ"WdZ[nf[h_[dY[j^Wj]_l[h_i[je
j^[fe[cm_bbe\j[dX[[nfh[ii[Zj^hek]^jed[WdZh^oj^c$:ej^[mehZi
mehaje][j^[hjeYh[Wj[[kf^edo"Z_iiedWdY["ehiec[j^_d]_dX[jm[[d5M^Wj
Wh[j^[m[_]^jiWdZ_d^[h[djZkhWj_edie\mehZiWdZb_d[i5J^[fe[jm^e_i
i[di_j_l[jej^_i[c[h]_d]\ehcYWd]_l[_j\kbbfbWoWimh_j_d]Yedj_dk[i$
HeX[hj9h[[b[o"_dÇDej[i7fhefeiÉ<h[[L[hi["ÊÈki[ij^[WdWbe]oe\
Zh_l_d]je[nfbW_d^_iWffheWY^jeeh]Wd_Y\ehc_dmh_j_d]0ÇJ^[heWZ"Wi_j
m[h["_iYh[Wj_d]_ji[b\cec[djbo_ded[ÊiWjj[dj_edje_j"j^[h["l_i_Xbo"_d
\hedje\j^[YWh$È>[_cfb_[ij^Wjj^[h[cWoX[ceh[WhekdZj^[X[dZeh
X[oedZj^[^eh_ped1Xkj"b_a[Zh_l[hi"fe[jiYWdedboWhh_l[Wjj^Wjfeii_X_b_jo
j^hek]^YWh[\kbWjj[dj_edjem^Wj_i_cc[Z_Wj[boWffWh[dj$Fe[jickij\eb#
bemj^[mehZi"b_a[j^[heWZ"Wij^[oYec[$
M^[d oek h[WZ W fe[c" oek ckij X[ Xej^ eXi[hlWdj WdZ fWj_[dj$
Beea Wj j^[ mehZi WdZ j^[ b_d[i Wi j^[o [c[h][$ M^Wj Ze oek h[Ye]d_p[5
M^WjbeeaiehiekdZi_dj[h[ij_d]5MW_jWb_jjb[$M[bYec[ikhfh_i[i$7iceh[
e\j^[fe[ch[l[Wbi_ji[b\"oekcWo\_dZWd[n^_bWhWj_d]cec[djkc"h[Ye]#
d_pWXb[fWjj[hdi"ehWc[h]_d]e\\ehcWdZYedj[djj^Wjm_bbYWhhooekWbed]$
F
Ie^emZe[iÇJ^[H[ZM^[[bXWhhemÈkd\ebZ57^[bf\kb[n[hY_i[_ijejhoje
Yedj_dk[mh_j_d]j^[fe[coekhi[b\$:ekXb[j^[b[d]j^"[_j^[hXoh[f[Wj_d]
j^[j^[c[ehXoWZZ_d]Wd[mh_\\WXekjj^[_cW][ie\j^[\_hij[_]^jb_d[i$
J^_i _i Wd [nf[h_[dj_Wb mWo e\ Z_iYel[h_d] m^Wj _i dej_Y[WXb[ WXekj j^[
fe[c$Oekm_bbb_a[bomh_j[_djme#b_d[ijWdpWi"ehS_e`\Udc$Ceije\j^[i[Y#
edZb_d[ie\j^[Yekfb[jim_bbYedi_ije\Wi_d]b[mehZ$CWdom_bb^Wl[j^ei[
mehZiX[dekdi"ehjme#iobbWXb[mehZi$7^WIeoek^Wl[Wbh[WZoX[]kdje
dej_Y[^emj^[fe[c_ifkjje][j^[h$
J^_iXh_d]ikijej^[fe[cÊiijWj[c[dj"_jic[Wd_d]$CWdofe[ci"
[if[Y_WbbodeddWhhWj_l[fe[ci"Wh[Z_\\_YkbjÆ_\dej_cfeii_Xb[ÆjefWhW#
f^hWi["[if[Y_WbboW\j[hW\_hijh[WZ_d]ehW\_hijb_ij[d$7dZ[nf[Yj_d]je\_dZ
11
how to re ad a poe m
Wc[Wd_d]j^WjÊieXl_eki_ie\j[d\hkijhWj_d]"Wi_jcWoX[^[h[$M^oZe[i
ieckY^Z[f[dZ5IeckY^m^Wj5
7hj_iji e\j[d iWo j^Wj W meha e\ Whj _i WXekj _ji[b\ WdZ iec[j^_d]
[bi[$?dj^_imWo"Wfe[cYWdX[WdQbc`_UdYSQWijWj[c[djXoj^[fe[jWXekj
fe[jho"WXekj^_ieh^[hX[b_[\iWXekjm^Wjfe[jho_iWdZWXekjm^Wj_jZe[i$
7ia_d] ^em j^_i fe[c c_]^j X[ Wd Qbc `_UdYSQ _i W ]h[Wj mWo je \khj^[h
kdZ[hijWdZXej^j^[fe[cWdZM_bb_WciWiWfe[j$M^WjZe[ij^[fe[c
Z[cedijhWj[ WXekj fe[jho5 M[bb" Y[hjW_dbo j^[ \[Wjkh[i e\ ijob[ WdZ \ehc
Yec[kfW]W_d$8kjj^[ijWj[c[djj^Wjj^[fe[ccWa[i"j^[Yh[Ze_jh[fh[#
i[dji"_ih_]^jj^[h["jee$7dej^[hmWojeWiaj^[gk[ij_edc_]^jX["M^Wj
Ze[i j^_i fe[c lWbk[5 9ecced j^_d]i" Yb[Whbo$ J^[ edbo eX`[Yji _d j^[
fe[cWh[ehZ_dWho"[dZkh_d]"WdZiec[^em[ii[dj_Wb$J^[iY[d[_ihkhWb"
f[h^WfiW\Whc$J^[Y^_Ya[diWh[dejiocXeb_Y1j^[oWh[m^_j[Y^_Ya[dij^Wj
[n_ijX[i_Z[[gkWbbofbW_dj^_d]ie\j^[mehbZ0Wkj_b_jWh_WdXWhhemj^Wj_i
dej[nWbj[Z"Xkjb[\jekj_dj^[hW_d$7dZdejWdWfeYWbofj_YhW_dXkjWibem
Zh_ppb[$ M^o Ze[i M_bb_Wci Y^eei[ j^_i _cW][" j^_i iY[d[5 M^o Ze[i ie
ckY^e\j^[fe[cZ[f[dZedj^_d]iieehZ_dWho5:ej^[i[YedYh[j[j^_d]i
ik]][ijWbWh][h"ceh[WXijhWYj_Z[W5
?ji^ekbZX[Yb[WhWjj^_ife_djj^Wj_dgk_ho_dje[Whb_[hgk[ij_edi
WXekj\ehcWdZj[Y^d_gk[^Wl[o_[bZ[ZbWh][hgk[ij_edie\_dj[hfh[jWj_ed$
Ieb[jÊih[jkhd\ehWcec[djjeWgk[ij_ede\\ehc$7bbj^WjÊib[\j\hecj^[
b_ije\\_hij_cfh[ii_edi_ij^[bWYae\fkdYjkWj_ed$>emmekbZj^[bWYae\
ijefiWdom^[h[_dj^[fe[ch[_d\ehY[j^[_Z[Wj^WjehZ_dWhoj^_d]iWh[e\
]h[Wj _cfehjWdY[5 M^Wj Ze[i ]hWccWh WYYecfb_i^ _d Wdo j[nj5 <eh ed[
j^_d]"_j^[bfiZ[j[hc_d[X[]_dd_d]iWdZ[dZ_d]i"WdZ\ehWdej^[h"_jmehai
m_j^Yed`kdYj_edijeh[fh[i[djh[bWj_edi^_fiWced]j^_d]i"j_c["WdZ_Z[Wi
_dj^[j[nj$8kj_dj^_ife[c"j^[h[_ided[e\j^Wj$M^o5M_j^ekjj^[_dj[h#
hkfj_edi e\ YeccWi WdZ f[h_eZi" j^[ mehZi \bem je][j^[h$ J^[o Wh[ dej
Z_iYh[j[fWhjiXkjed[m^eb[kd_j"Z_\\[h[dj_Wj[ZedboXoj^[ifWY[X[jm[[d
Yekfb[jehijWdpW$8kjj^[fW_h_d]e\b_d[ii[[cijeYh[Wj[Wkd_joWim[bb0
\ekh[gkWbfWhji$Iej^[ÇiY[d[È_i_dj[]hWj[Z\khj^[hXoj^[bWYae\Wdo^_[h#
WhY^o_cfei[ZXofkdYjkWj_ed$J^[]hWccWhh[cW_di"e\Yekhi[$
12
h o w to r e a d a p o e m
Iej^[ijWdpWiijWdZedj^[fW][Wii[fWhWj["Xkjj^[bWYae\fkdY#
jkWj_edYedd[Yjij^[c$J^[h[Xo"Wj[di_ed_iYh[Wj[Z"Wd_dZ[f[dZ[dY[j^Wj
iec[^em_iYedd[Yj[Z$J^_i_iX[]_dd_d]jeiekdZb_a[j^[ijWj[c[djj^[
fe[c_icWa_d]0ÇieckY^ÈZ[f[dZiedj^[i[^kcXb[j^_d]i$J^[]h[WjWdZ
icWbb"WffWh[djboZ_ij_dYjeX`[YjiWdZj^[ijWdpWiWh[ded[j^[b[ii_dj[h#
Yedd[Yj[Z$<ehcWdZYedj[djWh[`e_d[Z_dWZWdY[jeYh[Wj[c[Wd_d]"Wi_i
iee\j[dj^[YWi[_dWhj$
F!
DemfhWYj_Y[m^WjoekÊl[b[Whd[Zedjmeceh[e\M_bb_WciÊife[ci"ÇJ^[
=h[Wj<_]kh[ÈWdZÇJ^_i_i@kijjeIWo$ÈMh_j[oekhgk[ij_edi_dj^[cWh#
]_di$Jhoiec[e\j^[ijhWj[]_[im[Z_iYkii[ZWimWoijekdYel[hZ_\\[h[dj
bWo[hie\c[Wd_d]_dj^[fe[ci$
13
T HE G R EAT FIG U RE
+
'&
WI L LI AM C ARLOS WI LLI AMS
7ced]j^[hW_d
WdZb_]^ji
?iWmj^[\_]kh[+
_d]ebZ
edWh[Z
\_h[jhkYa
cel_d]
j[di[
kd^[[Z[Z
je]ed]YbWd]i
i_h[d^embi
WdZm^[[bihkcXb_d]
j^hek]^j^[ZWhaY_jo$
14
TH IS IS J UST TO SAY
+
'&
?^Wl[[Wj[d
j^[fbkci
j^Wjm[h[_d
j^[_Y[Xen
WdZm^_Y^
oekm[h[fheXWXbo
iWl_d]
\ehXh[Wa\Wij
<eh]_l[c[
j^[om[h[Z[b_Y_eki
ieim[[j
WdZieYebZ
15
W IL L IAM C AR LOS W IL L I AM S
A rich resource for classes or book groups, this collection
expresses the range and vigor of modern American poetry
and offers a practical approach to reading and discussing it.
Bringing together poet biographies, a glossary of literary
terms, and guidelines for crafting effective discussion questions
and understanding poetic form, Modern American Poetry
is an indispensable companion for poetry readers.
The Great Books Foundation
A nonprofit educational organization
35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 2300
Chicago, IL 60601-2205
1-800-222-5870
www.greatbooks.org
46
© Copyright 2026 Paperzz