Each poet we record has their own full page in the Archive. Here we can tell you about their writing life, biographies, histories, awards and more...

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Poet

1 poem available

Anonymous is a well-known and prolific poet.

Poet

Maya Angelou

B. 1928 D. 2014

1 poem available

Maya Angelou was born in St. Louis, Missouri on April 4th 1928, and raised in Arkansas. She is often referred to as the pioneer for African-American Women’s writing in the U.S. and remains an internationally celebrated storyteller. Angelou’s poetry, autobiographical fiction, essays…

Poet

Dannie Abse

B. 1923 D. 2014

5 poems available

Who says the world is not a wedding? - 'O Taste and See', Dannie Abse

Poet

5 poems available

Art's whatever you choose to frame. - 'Leaving the Tate', Fleur Adcock

Poet

10 poems available

We were testing the range of the human voice - 'The Shout', Simon Armitage

Poet

John Ashbery

B. 1927 D. 2017

5 poems available

For me, poetry is very much the time that it takes to unroll, the way music does...it's not a static, contemplatable thing like a painting or a piece of sculpture. - John Ashbery

Poet

4 poems available

With a lyric poem, you look, and meditate, and put the rock back. With fiction you poke things with a stick to see what will happen. - Margaret Atwood

Poet

Alfred Austin

B. 1835 D. 1913

1 poem available

Appointed Poet Laureate in 1896, Austin was born in Headingley and was educated at Stonyhurst College, St Mary’s College and at the University of London. His upbringing was Roman Catholic but moved towards agnosticism over time.  He trained as a…

Poet

2 poems available

I write because my ink must flow like blood. The written must be spoken. Patience Agbabi

Poet

Pam Ayres

B. 1947

5 poems available

Forget the corny comedian: Pam Ayres is a proper poet, whose wistful, funny, and perceptive verse captures both the joy and unfairness of life. - Sunday Times

Poet

Fergus Allen

B. 1921 D. 2017

3 poems available

Allen writes poetry that is limpid, very subtle and marvellously wise. - William Boyd

Poet

Matthew Arnold

B. 1822 D. 1888

3 poems available

I might have known, / What far too soon, alas! I learn'd / The heart can bind itself alone, / And faith may oft be unreturn'd.' Matthew Arnold, 'Isolation: To Marguerite'

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