American poetry Facts for Kids

American poetry is the poetry written in the United States. It is most often written in English. American poetry has a rich history with many different styles and voices.

Early American Poets
Modern Poetry Styles
Poets from Diverse Backgrounds
American Poetry Organizations
Images for kids
See also

Early American Poets

Two of the most famous American poets are Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman. They lived in the 1800s. Emily Dickinson wrote short, thoughtful poems about nature and human feelings. Walt Whitman wrote long, epic poems that celebrated America and its people.

Modern Poetry Styles

After World War I, a new style called Modernist poetry became popular. These poets were inspired by poetry from Europe and Asia, like Japanese Haikus. Two very famous Modernist poets were Ezra Pound (1885–1972) and T. S. Eliot (1888–1965). Pound wrote a long poem called Cantos. Eliot wrote a well-known modern American poem, The Waste Land, which is a dramatic poem. He also wrote fun poems about cats!

During the Vietnam War, a group called the Beat poets became very popular. Beat poets wrote about the American landscape, politics in the United States, and the Vietnam War. Some famous Beat poets include Jack Kerouac (1922–1969), Allen Ginsberg (1926–1997), Gary Snyder (born 1930), Diane Di Prima (born 1934), Amiri Baraka (born 1934), and Lawrence Ferlinghetti (born 1919).

The songwriter and poet Bob Dylan won the important Nobel Prize in 2016 for his songs, which are like poetry.

Poets from Diverse Backgrounds

Nuyorican Poets

The Nuyorican poets appeared in the 1970s and 1980s. They were poets who moved from Puerto Rico to New York City. They wrote poems in Spanish, English, and a mix of both called Spanglish (language). They often performed their poems in clubs, like the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. Many of their poems describe challenges like unfair treatment and difficult living conditions. Others write with humor and hope about love and success. Important Nuyorican poets include Pedro Pietri, Miguel Pinero, and Giannina Braschi.

Latina Poets

Other Latina poets also wrote in Spanish and Spanglish. These include Gloria E. Anzaldúa, Sandra Cisneros, Lorna Dee Cervantes, and Ana Castillo. These Latina poets were part of the Chicano Movement, which supported Mexican-American rights, and the Feminist movement, which worked for women's rights.

African American Poets

There are many great African American poets. Some well-known Black American poets are Gwendolyn Brooks (born in 1917), Maya Angelou (born in 1928), Ishmael Reed (born in 1938), Nikki Giovanni (born in 1943), Amiri Baraka, Kwame Dawes, Claudia Rankine, Terence Hayes, Tracy K. Smith, and Kevin Young.

Feminist Poets

Feminist poets write about women’s rights, female creativity, motherhood, and personal identity. Some of these poets are Adrienne Rich (1929–2012), Alicia Ostriker, Marilyn Hacker, and Amy Gerstler (born in 1956).

American Poetry Organizations

Several organizations help support poets in the U.S. These include the Academy of American Poets, the Library of Congress, the Poetry Society of America, and the Poetry Foundation.