Books in the Life of Poetry: Poets on Their Art & Craft series

Explains how, for the author, such concerns as music, race, politics, and conscience revolve around the practice of poetry and the evolution of a culturally responsible personal poetics. The author writes about the suicide of poet Vachel Lindsay, the culture wars at the National Endowment for the Arts, and more.

In this collection of essays, Mariani brings to light issues surrounding spirituality and poetry. By infusing scholarly criticism with a personal voice, Mariani allows us to see the relationship between poetry and a sublime presence in the universe.

An exploration of poetry, proposing that poems are acts of persuasion and that the strength of a poem's speaker is the key to engaging the reader. A variety of poetic examples are discussed, and the author calls on such masters of the craft as Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson.