Third Coast: Contemporary Michigan Poetry

by Conrad Herbert Scott & James Tipton Hilbery, Herbert Scott (Editor), James Tipton (Editor)

As David Wagoner wrote in the earlier volume, The Third Coast, "A Michigan poet may be undistinguishable from an Illinois poet or an Arizona poet (except for subject matter), but the publication of this anthology serves to underline one layer of regional cultural strength, even though these are not 'regional " Over a decade later, Contemporary Michigan Poetry is testimony that Michigan poetry continues to flourish. Preserving the mood and texture of Michigan in the 1980s, this new collection includes the best recent work by the state's most accomplished poets. Among the fifty-three contributors are Charles Baxter, Alice Fulton, Jim Harrison, Janet Kaufmann, Josie Kearns, Thomas Lynch, John R. Reed, and Stephen Tudor. Each of the editors is also a contributor to this sampling of poems. Styles range from understated to extravagant, from closely observed to freely imagined. Poems are as varied as the Michigan landscape. Remarkable in its scope and quality, Contemporary Michigan Poetry offers an arresting look at Michigan life and a special glimpse at the preoccupations that possess residents on the Third Coast.

Genres: Poetry

296 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Melissa Agawa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This anthology feels like a walk through Michigan’s interior — not just its woods and waters, but its emotional terrain. The poems are rooted in place, yes, but also in memory, family, and the quiet rituals of everyday life. There’s a tactile quality to the language that makes even the smallest moments feel alive.

I appreciate the editors’ balance of established and emerging voices. The collection doesn’t chase trends; it honors craft and clarity. Some poems linger longer than others, but the overall effect is cohesive and resonant. It’s a book I return to when I want to feel connected to land, to lineage, to the act of paying attention.