The Arts section of Merion West invites essays about poetry, to be titled “A Fresh Look at ____,” the blank representing a poet and one of her or his poems—for example, “A Fresh Look at Lydia Huntley Sigourney’s ‘Death of an Infant.’” The poem may be taken from any tradition within world culture and any era up through the end of the 20th century. The poet may be famous or one needing to be “rescued from history.”

The essay may also consider the elements of poetry—for example, “A Fresh Look at Syntax.”

Please read essays by contributing authors, by the Arts Editor of Merion West, Austin Allen James, or former arts editor Johnny Payne. Essays will typically fall within the 1,200–1,500-word range. We appreciate erudition and style. At the same time, we welcome a voice that invites a discerning general audience to explore poetry.