Word of Mouth: Poems Featured on NPR's All Things Considered

by Catherine Bowman

Starting in 1995, NPR’s All Things Considered began presenting poets reading their own works. Introduced by “poetry DJ” Catherine Bowman, these popular short segments allowed listeners to experience poetry as a kind of verbal music, recalling its roots as a spoken art form. Word of Mouth , edited by Bowman, brings together the poems that have been featured on NPR, providing a window onto the dynamic contemporary poetry scene. A child playing with flashes of sunlight in the aisle of an airplane; a woman describing tropical fruit to someone in a faraway country; a man building a deck with his dead father’s hammer; the musings of a Barbie doll participating in a 12-step these poems powerfully and lyrically transform the stuff of every day life. A celebration of the poetic voice that includes 33 acclaimed writers, this vibrant anthology proves beyond any doubt that poetry is far more than just words on paper.

Quincy Troupe • Czeslaw Milosz • Campbell McGrath • C.D. Wright • Jack Gilbert • Heather McHugh • David Lehman • Wang Ping • Joseph Brodsky • Paul Beatty • Lorna Dee Cervantes • Paul Muldoon • Lucille Clifton • Naomi Shihab Nye • Richard Blanco • Albert Goldbarth • Carrie Allen McCray • Belle Waring • Russell Edson • Kevin Young • Nuali Di Dhomhnaill • Charles Harper Webb • Denise Duhamel • Yusef Komunyakaa • Hal Sirowitz • Lucia Perillo • Amy Gerstler • Maura Stanton • Marilyn Chin • Philip Booth • Jane Cooper • Diane DiPrima • Elizabeth Spires

Genres: Poetry, Anthologies

208 pages, Paperback

First published March 11, 2003

Reviews

[Vendela · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are some real superstars in this book, known and unknown. Wonderful collection. I wanted it to finish with the next-to-last poet Jane Cooper - “Not a roof but a field of stars” - but understand why they went with Elizabeth Spires.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hear most of my poetry reading on NPR so it was natural for me to pull this anthology of poetry from 33 poets off the library shelf. It was such a sunny day, I read a few poems out loud right-away to my friend on the cut-rock benches outside the library. Some of my favorites were Denise Duhamel's Barbie poems, and "Two Ways to Cook Macaroni and Cheese for Pastor" by Carrie Allen McCray. After the spontaneous reading we walked to 7-Eleven for popsicles.

[John Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it. When I finish a book and it does NOT go back on the shelf, it means something to me. It's on my desk so I can seek out and explore the work of the poets involved. I did not like poetry in college because I couldn't stand the head of the poetry department. Ok, I hated him and chose to hate poetry too. Forty years later, I'm (re)discovering poetry for what feels like the first time. I still don't like that awful poet who somehow lucked into a university job. Actually, I like him even less now that I know poetry can be good.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection provides an interesting selection of poems from a nicely diverse set of poets. The editor provides a little biographical information before each set of poems. In some cases she includes her own interpretation of the poem, which I found mildly distracting.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely book of poems. I love that poetry opens a door to experiencing the world through the eyes of folks that see the world in a much different way than I do. Kind of like the small door to Wonderland.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poems are nice on a gray early September afternoon in the office.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good collection with a variety of poets.

[fredi · Rating 3 out of 5]

major englisch schulbuch vibes

[Daniel W. Polk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful collection of poems. Very inspiring!

[Tyler Knight · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea, personally. I've always been very "iffy" about poetry, and this collection solidified that. Just seems like a bunch of word salad to me.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great range of poets -- powerful book introduction -- poet bios weren't too long or tedious -- what more could you ask for in a poetry anthology? ((I definitely liked it more than any of the Best American Poetry anthologies I've read)). 4.5 stars.

Plus, this only happens once in a blue moon but one of the poet's work (Heather McHugh) caught my attention so instantly that before I even finished the first poem, I set the book down and opened up Amazon to add one of her books to my next order. [The last time that happened was when I read one of Stefanie Marlis' poems]. For a guy with few pennies to spare, that's saying a lot. Good stuff -- I'd recommend to anyone who has an interest in sampling the work of living poets.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book of poetry seems to be good for so many things--long plane trips to A'dam, propping up my nightstand, filling empty times in the car and patiently weathering book abuse until I finally, finally got around to giving it quality time. And I'm glad I did; it's a volume rich enough to recommend all-around. I started reading it for my New Year's resolution as a poetry novice and the works were accessible, enjoyable and diverse enough to have broad appeal. And for someone unfamiliar with modern poetry, it was a good jumping-off point for finding writers I like. If I had to go back and read it again, I'd make it the one-poem-before-bed kind of book.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

a collection you might always keep at your bedside table. i've been reading it for about 3 years straight, maybe. contains a really diverse collection of authors, introduced by fellow poet catherine bowman (who is really great). all poems and poets featured in the book were at one point featured on the npr program "all things considered" in their poetry section, "all poets considered", as selected and introduced by bowman. includes poets young and old, traversing the globe (as well as america, i might say). it's fresh.

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ordered this book to feed my hunger for poetry while I was away from home and away from a library that could easily provide me with poetic sustenance. I love the little biographic bits about each of the poets that precedes the poems from them, and the poems themselves have a really good sound to them. Perfect for reading aloud (of course).

[Ericka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um, yeh, this one will be a keeper FOR LIFE. My favorite poet and favorite poem has come from here. And I can change on this weekly if I so choose:-). Philip Booth-First Lesson. Jack Gilbert--The forgotten dialect of the heart. Read both outloud and bring tissue.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was original and I enjoyed reading blurbs about the contributing authors. It's not a poetry book that speaks to me in a way that says, "Own me!" or "Re-read me!" but it was certainly a fun one to pick up from the library and enjoy.

[Meen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice little introduction to many different poets with whom I was not familiar. I will keep it by my bed so I can flip to one of the many dogeared pages for a poetic nightcap when I need one.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this anthology over a period of months. The last bit was unexpectedly satisfying... I got to "meet" Philip Booth, Hal Sirowitz, Carrie Allen McCray and others whose words either knocked me down or lifted me up.

[Benjamin Champagne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is currently my favorite collection of poems. I ought to investigate more compilations by NPR contributors b/c they are without fail always delivering the goods. Catherine Bowman's 1-800-HotRibs ain't no slouch neither.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a poem in this anthology about how Buddha relates to Barbie. That's all I really need to say, isn't it?

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the few book of poetry that I'll confess to owning.

[Eiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this in the pick-up line at little man's school. Nice introduction to contemporary poets.

[Sarah]

Word of Mouth: Poems Featured on NPR's All Things Considered by Catherine Bowman (2003)

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting and eclectic collection of poems featured on NPR's All Things Considered.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I especially liked the poems of: Naomi Nye, Carrie Allen McCray, Denise Duhamel, Hal Sirowitz, and Philip Booth.

[Katie Karnehm-Esh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love this little anthology.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exceptional anthology.