Six American Poets: An Anthology

by Joel Conarroe (Editor), Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson

Here are the most enduring works of six great American poets, collected in a single authoritative volume. From the overflowing pantheism of Walt Whitman to the exquisite precision of Emily Dickinson; from the democratic clarity of William Carlos Williams to the cerebral luxuriance of Wallace Stevens; and from Robert Frost's deceptively homespun dramatic monologues to Langston Hughes's exuberant jazz-age lyrics, this anthology presents the best work of six makers of the modern American poetic tradition. Six American Poets includes 247 poems, among them such famous masterpieces as "I Hear America Singing," "The Idea of Order at Key West," "The Dance," and "Mending Wall," as well as lesser-known works. With perceptive introductory essays by the distinguished scholar Joel Conarroe and selections that capture the distinctive voices and visions of its authors, this volume is an invaluable addition to any poetry library.

Genres: Poetry, College, Anthologies, Classics, American, School, Fiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

All night I sat reading a book,
Sat reading as if in a book
Of sombre pages.

I only wish Maya Angelou had been included in this anthology. And yet the collection was as Emily Dickinson said, "If I read a book and it makes my body so cold no fire can ever warm me I know that is poetry. If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry. These are the ways I know it. Is there any other way?"

Give me the masterful rhythm of Langston Hughes, remind me of the melancholic brevity of Emily Dickinson, woo me with my beloved Robert Frost, and then...introduce me to the ordered style of Wallace Stevens and the introspection of William Carlos Williams?? Well you had me at hello. I like how each of these poets have a different style and voice, how their poems embody specific thematic and stylistic forms.

This is how the editors suggest you read it: "On a first reading one should listen closely to each of these poets to get the general picture, and then listen again. And again. There are no deadlines, no need to return this collection to a library. The experience should be savored." Indeed.

[Sarah EG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes it can be surprisingly challenging to read a poet with fresh eyes — Whitman is the free verse guy, Dickinson short and pithy, yada yada. Putting them in contrast with each other — as in this excellent anthology — underlines their originality and innovation: Whitman’s expansive exuberance, Dickinson’s careful precision, Stevens’ elliptical elegance, Williams’ earnest and humane voice, Frost’s wry observations, and Hughes’ clear-eyed social commentary.

This is a phenomenal anthology. I gained a richer understanding of every poet by reading them in conversation with each other. It reinvigorated my love of Whitman and Dickinson, and introduced me to William Carlos Williams. I love the humanity of his writing: he has a wry sense of humor paired with a deep empathy. You get the sense he loves the world, loves people in all of their brokenness and the glimmers of beauty that shine through, unexpectedly. I’ve historically been less of a Robert Frost fan, but this introduced me to a few that I liked by him. I also gained a richer understanding of Langston Hughes’ cogent social commentary. I still don’t really get Wallace Stevens — his language is beautiful, but most of the time I don’t get what the poems are saying or doing — but flickers of beauty move me in works like “Sunday Morning.”

A great anthology with a good mix of poets, great selections, and helpful introductions. Would recommend!

[Bree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I still have MUCH to learn about poetry, I appreciated having someone knowledgeable briefly introduce each poet and why they're celebrated. Now I can better determine, from well chosen samples, the ones I enjoyed and the ones I'll bypass in the future—and I'm looking at you Wallace Stevens. And don't think you're off the hook either Walt.

[Ellyanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

For school. I really liked reading these poems, however. My favorites are Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost. We did not get to Wallace Stevens or William Carlos Williams. Great poetry that shows American perspective.

[M. Sarki · Rating 3 out of 5]

After owning a first printing of this book for several years I once again made my way through it. I am a big fan of Wallace Stevens and Emily Dickinson so I enjoyed looking through the selections and reminding myself why I like them so much. But the others not so much. William Carlos Williams was the biggest disappointment as I once had a cassette of him reading his poems which I loved very much. But on the whole he isn't actually so hot a poet. Pretty silly stuff. But his reading voice is worth hearing. Same for Robert Frost. The famous poems of Frost of course are great, but as a whole his work fails to stand up to the vast praise bestowed upon his work. I am not at all sure why Langston Hughes is even included in this book as not one poem moved me in any way. I like jazz but not enough to hear it in a poem. Walt Whitman has a couple great poems, and I mean two, but then fizzles out completely. Just words on a page.

[Robert Case · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased my own copy (in hardback) at a used book sale last year and I've been savoring it in small pieces ever since. I started at the end with Langston Hughes. Jumped back to William Carlos Williams. Then, back a little more all the way to the beginning, and Walt Whitman. The experience was slow motion, eye-wideopening fun. The anthology gets five stars from this easy grader.

[Chloe Malushaga · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book a few weeks ago, simply because I have always loved to write poetry and I figured that reading some would be beneficial to my writing. Never having seriously read poetry before, I didn't think I would like this book. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed reading Six American Poets- An Anthology! My new favorite poet is Emily Dickinson, my new favorite poem by her is #258.

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find a new favorite every time I dig back in. Here is today's:

Pastoral

The little sparrows
Hop ingenuously
About the pavement
Quarreling
With sharp voices
Over those things
That interest them.
But we who are wiser
Shut ourselves in
On either hand
And no one knows
Whether we think good
Or evil.
Then again,
The old man who goes about
Gathering dog lime
Walks in the gutter
Without looking up
And his tread
Is more majestic than
That of the Episcopal minister
Approaching the pulpit
Of a Sunday.
These things
Astonish me beyond words.

-William Carlos Williams, in public domain.

[Judith Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recommend this book to anyone new or basically new to poetry and wanting to find out what they like. It's a good start for getting to know the poets before buying their collected work only to find out afterwords one doesn't like them.

I know now that I love Langston Hughes and don't like Wallace Stevens. William Carlos Williams somehow didn't make that much of an impression on me - I neither liked, nor disliked him.

For Whitman, Dickinson and Frost there were poems I liked and poems I disliked, but I think I'll definitely read more of them.

[Ruud · Rating 5 out of 5]

The poetry section on my bookshelf spans 80 cm (32.5 inch), i count over 25 books, some thin, some rather thick, an average of 450 pages i guess, that makes over 10,000 pages, mostly in Dutch, some in German and i counted 1,520 pages English poetry. This one is one of my favourites and unfortunately the only one on which i spilled a cup of coffee on. I was already familiar with the work of Frost, by William Carlos Williams (after seeing the movy Paterson) and some of Walt Witman’s poems, but Stevens and Hughes were a revelation, not least because of their introductions by Joel Conarroe.

[Steve]

Thought I should learn a bit about classical American poetry, and this book was recommended on a Substack that I like. Glad I read it, it’s certainly more by these six authors than I ever read before. I kinda liked Whitman. I found Dickinson and Stevens to be mostly incomprehensible, and Williams pretty much so,also. Frost and Hughes I felt like I could read, but I didn’t get much out of them. Maybe in some alternative life I would have learned more about poetry. Oh well.

[Dayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I try and I try, but the outstanding poet that shares his heart and his intellect with us: Langston Hughes.

Example: « The Negro Speaks of Rivers »
I’ve known rivers
I’ve known rivers as ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins

My heart has grown deep like the rivers.

Me: After listening to a lecture about why Western Civilization was the greatest civilization, I watched a black man go up to speak to the speaker afterwards. He began explaining about the Nile in Egypt 🇪🇬 and how progressive that civilization was. And how Cleopatra knew and was loved by both Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony. As I walked on, I thought about what he had said.

But especially because Langston Hughes’ next stanza told the same story.

I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young
I built my hut by the Congo 🇨🇬, and it lulled me to sleep
I looked upon the Nile and raised the Pyramids above it

What a marvelous gift to all the rest of us.

[Thomas George Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite poem by Walt Whitman, "Oh Captain My Captain" was one of the poems in this Anthology. Whitman was an avid admirer of Abraham Lincoln. Of course, Whitman is probably more known for his "Leaves of Grass." A poem that I have always found to be difficult to recite, let alone to understand.

[Gary Sankary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice introduction to some of America's most important poets. I wasn't much of a poetry reader before this reading this, wanted to be but didn't know where to start. This is a great place for that. I find reading a few poems before I go to sleep is an nice way to let go of the day and relax and focus on something other than work and stress.

[Britt Fitts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetry books are so underrated. Joel Conarroe did a decent job of introducing and organizing these selected poems from these poets.

"Parting is all we know of heaven
And all we need of hell."
-Emily Dickinson

[Sacha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The brief introduction to each poet was enjoyable and new. Each felt like being introduced by a thoughtful host who tells you exactly what you would find most useful to continue a conversation. The selection of poems was broad, interesting, and not overwhelming.

[Albert Meier · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to some important American poets. I found myself understanding some and not others and appreciating some and not others. The brief biographies were helpful.

[Annie]

Couldn't get through it all. Poetry is not for me.

[Kelsey Doll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quality content👍🏻 a great read with a diverse cast of poets

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I just lack the capability to understand some of these poems.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has some fantastic selections and does a pretty good job of introducing the authors. If you don't usually like poetry, try reading this book; it's a good place to start.

[P1r3tt3cla3$ · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 outta 10 would read again

[Rob Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction to these poets.

[Noah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good anthology of some great poets. I will be looking into more of these poet's works.

[Macy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75

[Bob Peru · Rating 4 out of 5]

wallace stevens. overrated.

[Barbara Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book because some of my favorite poets were featured. It was fun to find some new poems to like as well as read others I have loved and memorized over the years.

[Andy Jay]

In the intro it's written that folks should read a poetry every day. So I'm starting to.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's difficult to rate a book like this because some poems deserve a million stars while others deserve negative ten. I figured three was a good compromise.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the introduction to this collection, Conarroe quotes a literature teacher as saying "My young friends, I want to implore you to read some poetry every day for the rest of your lives - even if it's only a few lines!" What wise words, and how appropriate of a quote to start this collection. I wish that I could read poetry every day but for me, poetry is something that I have to have a clear mind to read; be in a place where I can put the day's worries aside and focus on what the author intends or how I interpret the stanzas. I also learned through reading this collection that no matter how clear my mind is, it will never be clear enough to understand Wallace Stevens.

Conarroe chose a vast array of American Poets for this collection but I can't help but feel that he interjected the token female and token ethnic poet. Conarroe claims that the author's he chose were literary opposite of each other in pairs. I don't know if I agree with him. Other than that point, I really enjoyed Conarroe. His interpretations of the poetry and the history of the authors was appreciated. It was like reading a lecture by one of your favorite professors. I wish that he would have done more. This could possibly helped me to understand Stevens.

The poetry in this collection was a vast array including the familiar, the favorite, the unheard of and the misunderstood. Dickinson, Frost, and Hughes are longtime favorites of mine. Dickinson's poetry brought back great memories from a time that I read much of her poetry.

Enjoyed.