Poets, and readers, have been grumbling about the decline of poetry ever since Aristophanes told the Athenians that Euripides just wasn't as good as Aeschylus. Centuries later, the crisis seems worse than ever. But, as Neil Astley, editor of the bestselling anthology Staying Alive, argues, at the grass-roots level it has never been more vibrant. Poet-translator Don Paterson describes working with language, the performance poet Luke Wright recalls on-stage thrills, and William Wootten rounds up the best of the latest collections. With new and unpublished poetry from around the world and choices from poetry lovers including Hilary Mantel, Trevor McDonald and Boris Johnson, this NS poetry special reveals why the form still matters so much. Let us know what you think - vote online for your own favourites at http://www.newstatesman.com/yourpoems
Give poetry back to people
Neil Astley
http://www.newstatesman.com/200610230043
Poetry special: Brilliant disguise
Don Paterson
http://www.newstatesman.com/200610230044
Poetry picks
http://www.newstatesman.com/200610230045
Poetry special: Reports from the front line of language
http://www.newstatesman.com/200610230046
Poetry special: Pump up the volume
Luke Wright
http://www.newstatesman.com/200610230047
Poetry special: Become an expert
William Wootten
http://www.newstatesman.com/200610230048
