Poets House in New York City

By Nava Atlas | On | Comments (0)

Poets House is a must-visit destination for poetry lovers visiting (or living in) New York City. While not at all hard to find, this literary haven far enough off the beaten to make it unlikely that you’d stumble upon it. When you arrive, you’ll be delighted not only by this treasure of a space, but also by its location.

The organization describes itself as “a place for poetry — Poets House is a national poetry library and literary center that invites poets and the public to step into the living tradition of poetry.”

Their mission is to be “a comfortable, accessible place for poetry — a library and meeting place which invites poets and the public to step into the living tradition of poetry. Poets House seeks to document the wealth and diversity of modern poetry, to stimulate dialogue on issues of poetry in culture, and to cultivate a wider audience for poetry.”

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Location

At the very western end of Murray Street downtown (also accessible from Chambers St.), winding around the corner toward the site’s location at 10 River Terrace, a vista unfolded before me unlike anything I’ve seen in the city: a gorgeous, blossoming urban park surrounded by water and filled with people reading, relaxing, playing soccer.

This lush view is what’s overlooked from the windows of Poets House, through which natural light floods the space.

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A comprehensive poetry library

The heart of Poets House is indeed their comprehensive library— most arranged by author, the rest by geography. I was impressed that the center allows readers and researchers to have coffee and even food with them as they work, trusting the care with which they’ll treat the volumes.

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Gallery and exhibition spaces

Adjacent to the main room featuring tall stacks filled with volumes of poetry and biographical works on their creators, there’s an intimate exhibition area; a second exhibit lines any free walls within the main space.

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Shared work area and quiet reading room

Though the main work and seating area is the very definition of quiet, to be completely be alone, you can ensconce yourself in the Quiet Reading Room. Painted a soothing grassy green, it’s lined with portraits of contemporary poets.

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There’s something so serene about spending time at Poets House. Of course, the collection includes male poets, who, as in other forms of literature, outnumber females, but my particular interest is in our site’s female authors.

This being said, it should be noted that the organization has always been female-led. It was co-founded by Elizabeth Kray. Executive Director, Lee Briccetti, has directed the organization for over 25 years.

Their President Emerita, Margo Viscusi, has always been a guiding light as well. I took some time to peruse volumes by Gertrude Stein, Sylvia Plath, and Emily Dickinson, who along with all other notable women poets have their full oeuvre displayed and accessible.

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If you’re a poetry aficionado, you’ll want to spend a few hours here. Though the sunlight pouring in from the windows made for a cheering atmosphere, I can imagine that Poets House must be a cozy place in which to spend a rainy afternoon reading and writing with some hot coffee or tea at hand.

Make sure to visit the Poets House website for hours, directions, and calendar of events.