This anthology showcases what Angela Ball terms the “New York School diaspora,” poems by writers who honor the virtues of the original four New York School poets: Frank O’Hara, John Ashbery, Kenneth Koch, and James Schuyler. These poems are driven by play, wit, the chaos of reality, and the belief that, to paraphrase Frank O’Hara, life is too important to strangle with seriousness.

Afterlives of the New York School of Poets features poetry by many poetic descendants of the New York School of Poets, an informal movement whose salutary effects have grown and broadened from its beginning seventy-five years ago. In her commentary, Ball captures their continuing influence and extends their spirit of playfulness into poetic analysis. With its 86 poems accompanied by lively, accessible and wide-ranging commentary, Ball proves that the New York School of Poets continues to inspire succeeding generations of writers.

This rigorous but compelling collection is an invaluable resource for readers, students, teachers and writers of poetry.

With an introduction from leading literary and cultural critic and poet David Lehman, whose work celebrates American poetry through a comprehensive study of the New York School of Poets and his role of founder-editor of a series of contemporary poetry anthologies.