Poet Biographies

William Butler Yeats wrote about everything from folklore to Irish nationalism. He is one of the most important poets of the 20th Century.

William Wordsworth, one of the most celebrated poets of the Romantic era, was a master of capturing the beauty and power of nature in his works. His famous poems continue to inspire readers and nature enthusiasts alike, making Wordsworth a timeless literary figure.

Amanda Gorman recently came into the public spotlight as the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, reading her poem ‘The Hill We Climb’ at President Joe Biden’s inauguration in January of 2021.

William Blake was unrecognized during his lifetime but since his death, he has become known as one of the greatest

John Keats was born in October of 1795 in Moorgate, London, England. Although he only lived to be twenty-five years

Elizabeth Barrett Browning, a prolific Victorian-era poet, and advocate for social justice, defied societal norms by pursuing literary fame and marrying for love. Her life was marked by tragedy and illness, yet her works continue to inspire generations.

E.E. Cummings wrote close to 3,000 poems over his lifetime and is often considered to be one of the most

Edgar Allan Poe’s work as a writer and editor were notable in their contribution to world literature. He is considered

Christina Rossetti’s name is often not the first that poetry lovers think of when they consider the great Victorian poets.

Sylvia Plath was born in Boston, Massachusetts in October of 1932. After a series of disappointing experiences in New York,

Robert Frost is one of the most popular American poets of all time. His highly accessible work made him famous

Maya Angelou was a writer, poet, and activist who defied categorization. Her life was a tapestry of triumphs and struggles, woven with words that captured the essence of human experience. She was known for her empowering verse, autobiographical works, and her role in advocating for women and African American writers.

Walt Whitman, who was born in 1819, is known as the father of free verse poetry. His deeply emotional, spiritual,

W.H. Auden was born in February of 1907, in York, England. Throughout his life he published approximately 400 poems and

Thomas Hardy is remembered today for novels such as Jude the Obscure and Tess of the d’Urbervilles. But, there is a wealth of

T.S. Eliot is remembered today as a literary critic, poet, and editor. Eliot’s poems have had a lasting influence on

Seamus Heaney is one of the best-loved poets of all time. He is remembered for his many volumes of poetry

Rudyard Kipling was an incredibly popular writer during his lifetime and for the years following his death. But, his reputation

Ralph Waldo Emerson is now remembered as one of the most important transcendental writers. Some of his best-known works are

Pablo Neruda is one of the best-loved poets of the 20th century. Throughout his life, he worked as a senator,

Ogden Nash was a much-loved American poet who is remembered for his lighthearted and humorous poems for children and adults.

Matthew Arnold is best-remembered for his poem, ‘Dover Beach‘. It, along with several others, solidified Arnold’s place in the history of

Margaret Atwood’s most well-known book is The Handmaid’s Tale which has recently enjoyed a resurgence in popularity. It is considered

Langston Hughes was a prolific poet, novelist, and playwright whose work was marked by a passionate commitment to social justice and the celebration of Black culture, merging traditional African American rhythms with modernist experimentation.