Many a critic, determined to speak with clarity and certitude upon the dauntingly ambiguous subject of modern poetry in English—or upon modernism in general, for that matter—has found himself invoking ...

Regular readers of the New York Times Book Review may recognize David Orr as that publication’s poetry critic — assuming they ever look at poetry criticism in the first place. Orr’s clear, ...

Most people would never put Shakespeare and Kendrick Lamar in the same sentence. One composed sonnets for the Elizabethan ...

“It appears to make sense, for many reasons, to have anthologies of women writers or exhibits of women photographers; it would seem very odd to propose an anthology of writers or an exhibit of ...

Our poetry editor recommends collections that revel in nature, family life, hard work and language. By Gregory Cowles If we’re being honest here, a true starter pack of modern American poetry would ...

Purchase this and other timeless New Criterion essays in our hard-copy reprint series. Despite the ubiquity of the usage, it was not always so: John Dryden and Alexander Pope did not speak of a poet’s ...

Micheal O’Siadhail’s Desire and Angela Alaimo O’Donnell’s Dear Dante are collections designed and erected meticulously in an ancient style that an avid reader is unlikely to see in much contemporary ...

The Red & Black is a 501c3 nonprofit. Please consider a one-time gift or become a monthly supporter. Cancel anytime. In celebration of National Poetry Month, here is a list of seven poems written by ...

In a land of vast deserts, lush oases and evocative coastlines, Emirati poetry has for centuries been more than an art form — it has been a way of life. The nation’s oral tradition of poetry, ...