Need help from DU American contemporary poetry buffs to design my course!

[CTyankee]

Please contribute the names of the TOP contemporary American poets for me to include in an upcoming poetry course for the Institute for Learning in Retirement. I have already presented a lecture on Kay Ryan and Elizabeth Alexander entitled "The Poet Laureate and the Inaugural Poet" but ILR members want something broader. I am guessing that Robert Pinsky and Louise Gluck should be on the list.

Thanks for all y'alls help!

[NMDemDist2]

1. California Peggy!!!!!

:hi:

[abluelady]

2. I Don't Know If She's Considered Top

But Nikki Giovanni is tops to me.

[pscot]

3. I would be curious to know

who makes your final cut. I like poetry, but contemporary poets are a mystery to me.

[LWolf]

4. William Stafford.

Anne Sexton
Mary Oliver
Margaret Atwood
Maya Angelou
Ekiwah Adler Belendez

[smoogatz]

5. A few:

Charles Simic
Charles Wright
James Wright
Yusef Komunyakaa
Robert Hass
W.S. Merwin
Thomas Lux
Lucille Clifton
Jorie Graham
Thom Gunn
Tony Hoagland
Mark Doty
Li Young Lee
James Tate
Larissa Szporluck