Sparks from the Anvil: The Smith College Poetry Interviews is a collection of discussions with contemporary poets, ranging from established elders like W.S. Merwin and Maxine Kumin to dazzling newcomers like Aracelis Girmay and the Dickman brothers, Matthew and Michael. In conversation with Christian McEwen, they describe their habitual writing practice, influences, and development, as well as their sense of the American poetry scene, and whatever else comes up in the course of a long, thoughtful, richly meandering exchange.
The sixteen interviewed poets are:
Annie Boutelle
Matthew Dickman
Michael Dickman
Patrick Donnelly
Rita Dove
Nikky Finney
Aracelis Girmay
Edward Hirsch
Jane Hirshfield
Yusef Komunyakaa
Maxine Kumin
Gwyneth Lewis
W.S. Merwin
Patricia Smith
Chase Twichell
Jean Valentine