Contemporaries in Poetry Come Together at My Poetic Side

We all know poets don't work alone, but sometimes we need a little help making connections to discover exactly which poets were contemporaries and if they were writing great verse at the same time. Thankfully, our friends at My Poetic Side have put together an interactive map for exactly that purpose. Joanne Jeffries and Julian Yanover introduce the map, writing: "Like musicians, poets often move in similar circles. You may be aware of some of the famous connections between poets, like Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton. However, there are plenty of other relationships and links that aren’t as well known. Not only this, but it is interesting to note poets that were producing their best works at the same time, even if they did not have a personal connection." Jefferies and Yanover go on to give some details about friendships among some of the better-known poets:

Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell

There is only one place to begin, and this is with one of the most iconic friendships in poetry. In 1947, these two incredible writers met at a party, and they were both on the start of their journey into the world of becoming established poets. From that moment, they fell in love, in the platonic sense. They savoured exchanging artistic insights with each other and they were completely in awe of each other’s talent. This resulted in them sharing thoughtful letters for thirty years!

Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton

Another relationship that is well known is that of Anne Sexton and Sylvia Plath, although the story of both is more tragic. They both struggled with mental health issues and the social strictures of their times. They both committed suicide and have become the subject of many studies since. Ironically, though, they are really studied in relation to one and other. This is surprising considering they both found solace in one and other and attended Boston University together. In fact, they often met with Robert Lowell and discussed poetry over martinis, although they were deemed more acquaintances than close friends.

Head to My Poetic Side to give the map a whirl and read up on other poet pairings.