The Rattle Bag is an anthology of poetry (mostly in English but occasionally in translation)
for general readers and students of all ages and backgrounds. These poems have been selected by
the simple yet telling criteria that they are the personal favorites of the editors themselves
two of contemporary literature's leading poets. Moreover Heaney and Hughes have elected to
list their favorites not by theme or by author but simply by title (or by first line when no
title is given). As they explain in their Introduction: We hope that our decision to impose an
arbitrary alphabetical order allows the contents [of this book] to discover themselves as we
ourselves gradually discovered them--each poem full of its singular appeal transmitting its
own signals taking its chances in a big voluble world. With undisputed masterpieces and rare
discoveries with both classics and surprises galore The Rattle Bag includes the work of such
key poets as William Shakespeare Walt Whitman Emily Dickinson Lewis Carroll Dylan Thomas
Wallace Stevens Elizabeth Bishop and Sylvia Plath among its hundreds of poems. A helpful
Glossary as well as an Index of Poets and Works are offered at the conclusion of this hefty
unorthodox diverse inspired and inspiring collection of poetry.
