The Best American Poetry 2024

This year's anthology, curated by the formidable Mary Jo Salter, delivers a masterclass in contemporary verse, showcasing a vital cross-section of the year's most resonant and technically accomplished poems. Salter's discerning eye for both formal precision and emotional depth is evident throughout, assembling a collection that feels both timeless and urgently of the moment. The selected works demonstrate a remarkable range of voices and styles, from tightly-wound sonnets to expansive free verse, proving the continued vitality and diversity of the American poetic landscape.

What distinguishes this volume is its unwavering commitment to quality over mere trendiness, offering readers a trustworthy guide to the poetic year. The anthology serves as an essential literary time capsule, capturing the cultural and emotional currents of our time through language that is at once intelligent and deeply felt. For aspiring writers, it's an invaluable survey of craft; for dedicated readers, it's a rich, rewarding journey through the best that poetry currently has to offer. This is a collection that not only reflects the state of the art but actively elevates it.