Three Cheers for Anthony Hecht

I began my exploration of Anthony Hecht as part of an assignment for my AP Literature class this year. The assignment called for each student in the class to choose an American Poet Laureate and study their life and works. Judging solely from the information I gleaned from my own research; and my classmates presentations, which consisted of a brief biography of their poet, an explication of one poem fleshed out by observations made from a criticism about the poem and further reflection on the work on their own part; as well as open discussion with the class, Anthony Hecht was the best Poet Laureate I could have picked for my particular taste in poetry.

Anthony Hecht appeals to me for multiple reasons. Amongst these is his highly structured form. His writing is disciplined and measured. It is controlled and shows a great deal of care about his work. The strict and formal form of his poetry allows it to flow with a definite meter. This rhthym is beautiful and can be as important to the message of the poem as the very words.

In addition to his disciplined style, I also appreciated his ability to discuss dark subjects. I believe part of this may have come from his experience in the Army. He was drafted into WWII, and his division helped liberate Flossenburg Concentration Camp. Anthony Hecht translated the statements of the survivors for his company. His eloquence when addressing truly bleak topics is incredible and it communicates his message without detracting from the power of the poem.

Finally there is Hecht's use of rhyme. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Hecht rhymes in nearly every one of his works. This endeared him to me greatly. The creative use of rhyme is a great part of the art of poetry. It is a challenge in poetry, and Hecht's writing meets this head on! His use of rhyme in his flowing verse is absolutely remarkable! His rhyme, coupled with the distinct structure of his poetry makes for a profound experience in each poem of his a reader encounters.

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