There have been a constant stream of poets throughout history although several stand out as “best in class”. Here is our list of favorites for you to enjoy!

Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)
Edgar had a significant role in the American Romantic Movement where a lot of his works featured. Having started writing short stories from an early age, he led to the invention and appreciation of literary works in the detective genre. He also worked with other writers in the development and popularization of science fiction. People remember this outstanding man as the only writer at the time who dared to make it through life through a career in solely writing. Though this decision caused him many a problem in his financial well-being, it paved the way for other writers to take the hard route and is thus the platform on which modern writers stand.

Walter Whitman Jr. (1819-1892)

Walter Whitman Jr. was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse.

Robert Frost (1874-1963)

Robert Frost was an American poet born on March 26, 1874 in San Francisco, California. One of the foremost poets of the 20th century and winner of four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry. He once said “There are three things, after all, which a poem must reach: the eye, the ear, and what we may call the heart or the mind.

Emily Dickinson  (1830-1886)

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was an American poet. Little-known during her life, she has since been regarded as one of the most important figures in American poetry. She wrote around 1800 poems, mostly revolving around themes such as death and immortality.