For poetry to be meaningful, it must relate to the lives of its readers. Through the short poems in this collection, teachers can focus on a basic reason for poetry — to say something about the human condition — and lead students to address how it connects with their values, beliefs, experiences, and needs. More than 250 poems from contemporary periodicals and poets not generally accessible can be used in a variety of teaching approaches and can be applied to personal and social topics. Lessons are arranged according to theme. Some themes that may resonate with students include The Art of Poetry, The Perils of Complacency, Learning to Know Ourselves, Dealing with Adversity, and Expressing and Overcoming Loneliness. An index contains an alphabetical list of poets and their poems.

Lessons connect lively short poems with students’ experiences, encouraging written expression and discussion that continues beyond the class period.