<strong>Juan Felipe Herrera</strong>, son of migrant farm workers in California, has been named the next U.S. poet laureate. Herrera, 66, whose parents emigrated from Mexico, will be the nation's first Latino poet laureate since the position was created in 1936. Here's a look at some other famous poets from the 16th century to the present.
Juan Felipe Herrera, son of migrant farm workers in California, has been named the next U.S. poet laureate. Herrera, 66, whose parents emigrated from Mexico, will be the nation's first Latino poet laureate since the position was created in 1936. Here's a look at some other famous poets from the 16th century to the present.
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<strong>William Shakespeare</strong> (1564-1616) is best known for his plays, but he's not nicknamed the Bard of Avon for nothing. Shakespeare also wrote more than 150 sonnets and love poems, with such enduring lines as "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?"
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is best known for his plays, but he's not nicknamed the Bard of Avon for nothing. Shakespeare also wrote more than 150 sonnets and love poems, with such enduring lines as "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?"
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<strong>John Keats</strong> (1795-1821) was an English romantic poet whose reputation has far outlasted his brief life. He is most admired for his series of odes, most notably "Ode on a Grecian Urn," with its famous final lines: "Beauty is truth, truth beauty -- that is all / ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."
John Keats (1795-1821) was an English romantic poet whose reputation has far outlasted his brief life. He is most admired for his series of odes, most notably "Ode on a Grecian Urn," with its famous final lines: "Beauty is truth, truth beauty -- that is all / ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."
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Englishwoman <strong>Elizabeth Barrett Browning</strong> (1806-61) was the wife of writer Robert Browning and an acclaimed Victorian poet in her own right. Many believe her literary reputation exceeded that of her husband. The opening lines of one of her love sonnets -- "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways" -- are still widely quoted today.
Englishwoman Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-61) was the wife of writer Robert Browning and an acclaimed Victorian poet in her own right. Many believe her literary reputation exceeded that of her husband. The opening lines of one of her love sonnets -- "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways" -- are still widely quoted today.
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American poet <strong>Edgar Allan Poe</strong> (1809-49) also wrote short stories and essays and is widely credited with inventing the modern detective story. A master of dark, spooky atmosphere, he became a sensation after the 1845 publication of his narrative poem "The Raven."
American poet Edgar Allan Poe (1809-49) also wrote short stories and essays and is widely credited with inventing the modern detective story. A master of dark, spooky atmosphere, he became a sensation after the 1845 publication of his narrative poem "The Raven."
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<strong>Walt Whitman</strong> (1819-91), often called the father of free verse, was one of the most influential American poets. His landmark collection "Leaves of Grass" was considered obscene by some at the time for its overt sexuality. And that "O Captain! My Captain!" line from the end of "Dead Poets Society"? It's Whitman's.
Walt Whitman (1819-91), often called the father of free verse, was one of the most influential American poets. His landmark collection "Leaves of Grass" was considered obscene by some at the time for its overt sexuality. And that "O Captain! My Captain!" line from the end of "Dead Poets Society"? It's Whitman's.
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Although she never traveled far from her Massachusetts home and was not well-known in her lifetime, the reclusive <strong>Emily Dickinson</strong> (1830-86) is now one of the most admired American poets. Among her best-known lines: " 'Hope' is the thing with feathers / That perches in the soul / And sings the tune without the words / And never stops -- at all ..."
Although she never traveled far from her Massachusetts home and was not well-known in her lifetime, the reclusive Emily Dickinson (1830-86) is now one of the most admired American poets. Among her best-known lines: " 'Hope' is the thing with feathers / That perches in the soul / And sings the tune without the words / And never stops -- at all ..."
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Irish-born author and critic <strong>Oscar Wilde</strong> (1854-1900) is best known for his biting wit, plays like "The Importance of Being Earnest" and his gross indecency trial over his homosexual relationships. But he was a fine poet as well, especially early in his career.
Irish-born author and critic Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) is best known for his biting wit, plays like "The Importance of Being Earnest" and his gross indecency trial over his homosexual relationships. But he was a fine poet as well, especially early in his career.
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The Pulitzer Prize-winning poems of <strong>Robert Frost</strong> (1874-1963) were rooted in the rural imagery of his beloved New England. His best-known poems, including "The Road Not Taken" and "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening," have inspired countless school-yearbook quotes.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning poems of Robert Frost (1874-1963) were rooted in the rural imagery of his beloved New England. His best-known poems, including "The Road Not Taken" and "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening," have inspired countless school-yearbook quotes.
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Although born in Missouri, <strong>T.S. Eliot </strong>(1888-1965) moved as a young man to England, where he spent the rest of his life. Acclaimed for such complex, modernist masterpieces as "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" and "The Waste Land," Eliot received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1945. Every time someone says "April is the cruelest month," they're quoting Eliot.
Although born in Missouri, T.S. Eliot (1888-1965) moved as a young man to England, where he spent the rest of his life. Acclaimed for such complex, modernist masterpieces as "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" and "The Waste Land," Eliot received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1945. Every time someone says "April is the cruelest month," they're quoting Eliot.
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<strong>E.E. Cummings</strong> (1894-1962) was a prolific poet who was perhaps best known for his playful experiments with grammar, syntax and form. (Some of his poems contained no capital letters, and his name was often printed as e.e. cummings.) He was one of the most popular American poets of the 20th century.
E.E. Cummings (1894-1962) was a prolific poet who was perhaps best known for his playful experiments with grammar, syntax and form. (Some of his poems contained no capital letters, and his name was often printed as e.e. cummings.) He was one of the most popular American poets of the 20th century.
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A central figure in the Harlem Renaissance movement of the 1920s, <strong>Langston Hughes</strong> (1902-67) was a poet, novelist, playwright and social activist who championed African-American culture. He's maybe best known for his poem "A Dream Deferred," which begins, "What happens to a dream deferred? / Does it dry up / Like a raisin in the sun?"
A central figure in the Harlem Renaissance movement of the 1920s, Langston Hughes (1902-67) was a poet, novelist, playwright and social activist who championed African-American culture. He's maybe best known for his poem "A Dream Deferred," which begins, "What happens to a dream deferred? / Does it dry up / Like a raisin in the sun?"
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Chilean poet <strong>Pablo Neruda</strong> (1904-73) wrote in a variety of styles but is probably best known for his passionate love poetry, on display in such popular collections as "Twenty Poems of Love and a Song of Despair" and the Oscar-nominated film "Il Postino." A beloved political figure in his native country, Neruda served as a diplomat and was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1971.
Chilean poet Pablo Neruda (1904-73) wrote in a variety of styles but is probably best known for his passionate love poetry, on display in such popular collections as "Twenty Poems of Love and a Song of Despair" and the Oscar-nominated film "Il Postino." A beloved political figure in his native country, Neruda served as a diplomat and was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1971.
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One of the key figures of the Beat movement of the 1950s, <strong>Allen Ginsberg</strong> (1926-97) wrote poems that celebrated nonconformity and his counterculture leanings. His best-known work was 1956's "Howl," an epic poem that scandalized some readers and was banned for its depictions of homosexual sex. Its publisher was even jailed, although a judge later ruled the poem was not obscene.
One of the key figures of the Beat movement of the 1950s, Allen Ginsberg (1926-97) wrote poems that celebrated nonconformity and his counterculture leanings. His best-known work was 1956's "Howl," an epic poem that scandalized some readers and was banned for its depictions of homosexual sex. Its publisher was even jailed, although a judge later ruled the poem was not obscene.
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The multitalented <strong>Maya Angelou</strong> was a poet, actress, dancer, essayist, civil rights activist and filmmaker. She first made her mark with a 1969 memoir, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," which became a bestseller. Angelou's popularity spiked again in 1993, when she read her new poem, "On the Pulse of Morning," at President Clinton's inaugural ceremony. She died in May 2014 at the age of 86.
The multitalented Maya Angelou was a poet, actress, dancer, essayist, civil rights activist and filmmaker. She first made her mark with a 1969 memoir, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," which became a bestseller. Angelou's popularity spiked again in 1993, when she read her new poem, "On the Pulse of Morning," at President Clinton's inaugural ceremony. She died in May 2014 at the age of 86.
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