5 Poetry Collections to Keep the Olympic Spirit Alive
The Olympics are back, and millions are tuning in to watch unbelievable gymnastics, swimming, rugby, and more. From the “pommel horse hero” to Flavor Flav’s unexpected association with the USA Water Polo teams, quirky and wholesome viral moments have turned up the excitement and enthusiasm this Olympic season. The Olympics celebrates both the highest achievements in athletics and the coming together of different cultures and countries. Though the Olympics spans just a few weeks, these collections tap into the vibe of celebrating unity so you can keep enjoying it all summer long.
The World Is One Place, edited by Diane Glancy and Linda Rodriguez
This 2017 anthology brings together a wide range of Native American voices, spanning different ages, tribes, regions, and more, to reflect on their experiences visiting the Middle East. The editors of the collection, notable Cherokee poets Diane Glancy and Linda Rodriguez, noticed Native poets often writing about their travels to the region. The result is this stunning anthology, one that pinpoints the surprising similarities between cultures and the threads that link people from across the world.
A Book of Luminous Things: An International Anthology of Poetry by Czeslaw Milosz
Just as the Olympics showcases the best athletes from around the world, the idea behind this anthology is to showcase the 300 best poems from writers across the world and across centuries. Renowned Polish poet and translator Czeslaw Milosz provides commentary alongside each poem included, his words adding valuable and enriching context. Milosz also organizes these poems under eleven headings, which helps to reveal the common themes that stretch beyond national identities.
Border Lines: Poems of Migration, edited by Mihaela Moscaliuc and Michael Waters
The Olympics features many diverse and nuanced immigrant stories. Border Lines: Poems of Migration gives readers more of a chance to dig into these experiences. Editors Mihaela Moscaliuc and Michael Waters have selected works from 100 poets from 60 nationalities. Enjoy powerful poems from well-known writers like Warsan Shire and Ocean Vuong, plus discover new voices writing in the diaspora.
The Sporting Muse: A Critical Study of Poetry about Athletes and Athletics, edited by Don Johnson
What do sports—and by extension, sports poetry—say about a culture? By focusing on American sports poetry, The Sporting Muse attempts to answer this question and delve into its many angles. A blend of poetry and analysis, the book reflects on both individual sports, including golf, tennis, and boxing, and a wider culture of fandom, celebrity, and iconography that surround these cultural fascinations and pastimes.
The Carrying by Ada Limón
If you want to feel inspired by feats of symbolism, strength, and majesty, watch the Olympics—or read The Carrying by Poet Laureate Ada Limón. This collection, which won the National Book Critics Circle Award, celebrates the strength of women and the strength often required for everyday life. Limón also writes about the accompanying burdens we all carry, a parallel to the increasing discussion about mental health in sports.
Want poetry that pairs with your favorite sports? From baseball to boxing, check out our roundup of poetry collections about athletics.
