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Literature

National Poetry Month 2021

National Poetry Month celebrates poets and poetry.

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of National Poetry Month! Founded by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month celebrates poets and poetry. Celebrate with these titles in our collection.

A Street in Bronzeville by Gwendolyn Brooks- One of the most respected and renowned poets of the 20th century, Gwendolyn Brooks was the first Black author to win a Pulitzer Prize and the first Black woman to be a poetry consultant to the Library of Congress. A Street in Bronzeville is Brooks’ first collection of poetry and follows the lives of African Americans on the South Side of Chicago.

The Cambridge History of American Poetry- This book features insight from over 50 scholars on the evolution of poetry and offers a comprehensive exploration of poetry and American poetry traditions.

Slam- The Grand Prize Jury prize winner at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival, Slam stars Saul Williams as Ray, a young poet who uses poetry to escape racism in the criminal justice system.

Sylvia Plath Collected Poems- A dynamic poet of the 20th century, Plath was known for using her poetry to express elements of her life, from womanhood to marriage and more.

Angel Island: The Roots & Branches of Asian American Poetry- This article features poet Kimiko Hahn detailing her history as an Asian American poet. Her latest collection of poems, Foreign Bodies, is also available in our collection.

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