Breathe: 101 Contemporary Odes

Poetry. A testament to the stunning variety of the human experience, this timely anthology reminds us of the singular importance of poetry to our lives and our souls. The influence of Horace, Keats, and Neruda is deeply evident in the lyric beauty of these poems, but more than a few defy conventions and challenge the form itself in an exciting expansion of boundaries. Selected for their language, their imagery, their honesty, and their insight, this gathering of 101 poems by 95 poets is a fresh sampling of memorable new odes in the English language. Contributors include Kim Addonizio, David Baker, Christopher Buckley, Elena Karina Byrne, Kelly Cherry, Carl Dennis, Denise Duhamel, Martin Espada, Richard Jackson, Thomas Lux, Naomi Shihab Nye, Stanley Plumly, William Pitt Root, Pamela Uschuk, Jane Shore, Gerald Stern, Diane Wakoski, Gary Young, and many more.