Dec 24th, 2008 · As the famous poem puts it, Christmas is when children are "nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads." It's a lovely image. But it does prompt the question: What exactly is a sugarplum? The short answer: It's very good.
Dec 24th, 2008 · Parents have recited the verses of "A Visit from St. Nicholas" for nearly two centuries, and we suspect that the tradition of parodying the poem — which famously begins, "'Twas the night before Christmas " — is nearly as old. Share your updated versions of the poem, be they about politics, sports or the economy.
Dec 16th, 2008 · Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and essayist William Stanley Merwin was known in the 1960s as an anti-war poet. Now an environmental activist, Merwin has published a new book of poems, The Shadow of Sirius, which addresses themes of memory and mortality.
Dec 7th, 2008 · On the 400th anniversary of the birth of John Milton, fans around the world are celebrating with literary events, exhibits and readings of Milton's famous epic poem, Paradise Lost.
Dec 5th, 2008 · The 2008 presidential race was many things to many people, but almost everyone agrees that it was long — epic even. So what better way to tell the story of the past political year than in an epic poem? That's where Calvin Trillin's Deciding the Next Decider comes in.
Dec 5th, 2008 · Pundits and public alike are comparing President-elect Barack Obama with the sixteenth U.S. president, Abraham Lincoln. Fred Kaplan's new book takes a look at President Lincoln as a scribe, from his personal letters to poems to epic speeches. Does he see Obama in Lincoln's words?
Nov 24th, 2008 · Eighth century Chinese poet Du Fu, one of the most admired lyric poets in the world, left behind some 1,400 poems and a record of a life that translator and editor David Young has now turned into a biography in verse.
Nov 24th, 2008 · Slam poet Gayle Danley has won international acclaim as a slam poet. Her newest endeavor is could be her most challenging one yet. Danley is taking the themes within her poems and passing them on to children. The artist, recently featured in the Washington Post Magazine, explains her passion for the spoken word and for sharing her message with young people.