Critical introductions to a range of literary topics and genres. Poetry has been described as 'a necessary art' that enriches what goes on inside us. This book offers an introduction to the often challenging world of contemporary poetry. The book focuses on very recent poetry, and examines the various challenges to tradition it presents: challenges of both content and form, as well as more practical challenges such as new forms of publication. Contents include recent work by established poets such as Seamus Heaney and Ted Hughes as well as poetry by writers who have emerged since 1990 such as Jackie Kay and Vicki Feaver.