The Singing Word: 168 Years of Atlantic Poetry

by Walt Hunter

An ode to America’s people, land, and spirit, this stunning collection features a breadth of contemporary and historical poetry from the Atlantic magazine’s 168-year archive.

The poetry of The Atlantic has, from the magazine’s first issue in 1857, called attention to the unfinished project of the nation. The magazine’s verse has featured odes to American leaders and landscapes, laments for the dead, and calls for change, appealing to the enduring ideals of Atlantic readers.
    This one-of-a-kind collection selects poems of rousing optimism, clear-eyed realism, and moving lyricism—poems infused with the language of America’s songs, myths, and history, from the Civil War up through the present in three rich National Anthems, Natural Lines, and Personal Mythologies. Curated by The Atlantic’s Poetry Editor, this anthology features both world-famous poets—from Longfellow to Limón, including Robert Frost, W. S. Merwin, Sylvia Plath, and Adrienne Rich—as well as poets whose work has never before been published outside of the magazine.
    Offering readers an essential understanding of American canon and the evolving nation its poets have yearned to capture—the poetry of The Atlantic is the poetry of America.

Genres: Poetry

256 pages, Hardcover

Published September 9, 2025

Reviews

[Ddoddmccue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely anthology of poetry from the archives of The Atlantic, starting in 1857. Esteemed and unfamiliar poets, leading to a varied collection- but always a calming lyrical meditation after hectic days.

No need to rush through. Spontaneous selections recommended.

Highly recommended as a soothing bedside companion, on call when needed. At risk of the trivial, the binding and cover spell soothing too.

Another reason to see The Atlantic as an enduring source of poetry, literature, and observation.

[The_J · Rating 4 out of 5]

The time covered supposedly 168 years. I guess the Atlantic might have decided to put out an anthology before the publication went the way of Life, Newsweek or any of the other seminal "magazine" publications. The poems here have great breadth as the years indicate and there are major works of the written form, but all gathered is not excellence. Please enjoy and forgive those errant invited to the 168th party.

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite collection of poetry. The works felt rather disjointed and did not have much in common other than being featured in the Atlantic. I suppose that is the point, to perhaps demonstrate the variety of poems. Yet, I didn’t feel connected to any of them.

[Jaci · Rating 5 out of 5]

This took several months to read, several poems per day. The editor had a formidable job and the choices made are superb...I'm always happy to see Louise Gluck anywhere. I am paying more attention to the current poetry in The Atlantic.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully bound and a pleasure to read!

[savvy!! · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 !!