The Dance: Poems

by Christian Wiman

A new book of poetry from the celebrated poet and essayist, who has “wrestled eternity onto the page” (The New York Times).

Few contemporary writers ask the questions about faith, morality, and God that Christian Wiman does, and even fewer—perhaps none —do so with his urgency and eloquence. In his seventh book of poetry, The Dance, Wiman is at the height of his powers. These searching, sharp, wide-ranging poems are a testament to the staying power of a poetic voice we will be reading for years to come.

Genres: Poetry

128 pages, Paperback

Expected publication July 7, 2026

About the author

Christian Wiman is an American poet and editor born in 1966 and raised in West Texas. He graduated from Washington and Lee University and has taught at Northwestern University, Stanford University, Lynchburg College in Virginia, and the Prague School of Economics. In 2003 he became editor of the oldest American magazine of verse, Poetry.

Reviews

[H.L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a poetry lover, I must confess that, to be honest, I didn’t particularly care for the poems, Perhaps it’s because I’m someone who prefers collections of melancholic love poems; I don’t know. But I still have boundless respect for the effort that goes into writing poetry; after all, every poem carries a piece of the poet within it.

[Mallory Nygard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few of my favorites: Deep Space in the B Minor Mass, Note in the Margin of Moby Dick, Two Poets

[Morgan Fulton · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5