Poetry has deep roots in New England, from Mistress Bradstreet to the 19th century giants of the American Renaissance, to contemporary multicultural voices of the region.
What is a New England poet? Considered the most “New England” poet of them all, Frost was not a native, but became the literary voice of the region. In fact, his explanation of what New England gave most to the country was “a stubborn clinging to meaning — to purify words until they meant again what they should mean.” The poets of New England reflect this characteristic in celebrating what is unique, beautiful, depressing, oppressive, haunting, ironic, stubborn, gritty, unpredictable, reticent and enduring about this landscape and its people.
On display near our circulation desk are works by well-known native New England poets as well as those who by choice transplanted here, adding enrichment and variety to the New England voice in poetry. Also, experience poetry as it was meant to be heard — check out our list of spoken recordings of some of New England’s finest poets.
Visit the Academy of American Poets website for much more information about events and activities in nationwide observance of National Poetry Month.
Image: Mary Oliver’s Blue Iris, An elegant collection of poetry and prose about flowers, trees, and plants of all sorts. Oliver has written more than ten volumes of poetry and prose and is one of America’s best-selling and most honored poets, a winner of both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. A longtime resident of Provincetown, Massachusetts, she is now on the faculty of Bennington College in Vermont. (description from Amazon.com)
