Poet

What poets do

Poets write poems exploring nature, identity, politics, love, grief, and abstraction. They submit to literary magazines, publish chapbooks and full-length collections, give readings, and often teach in universities or community workshops.

Training path

Many US poets earn MFA degrees in creative writing, though significant numbers are self-taught and build reputations through journal publication and slam or spoken word communities. Residencies and fellowships from Poets and Writers, the Academy of American Poets, and others support careers.

Forms

Forms include lyric, narrative, free verse, sonnet, sestina, ghazal, prose poem, haiku, ode, elegy, and experimental and conceptual writing. Performance poetry and slam culture have built thriving live scenes parallel to print.