The World's Best Poetry ...: Love; introductory essay: The future of poetry, by J.V. Cheney

Key themes

The Many Forms of Love

This is the central thematic pillar of the anthology, explored through a vast array of poems. It encompasses romantic love (passionate, tender, unrequited), platonic love, familial love, divine love, and even self-love. The poems collectively illustrate love's capacity for joy, sorrow, ecstasy, and despair, highlighting its transformative power and its role as a fundamental human experience.

The Nature and Future of Poetry

Primarily explored through J.V. Cheney's introductory essay, this theme delves into the essence of poetry as an art form, its historical evolution, and its potential trajectory. It likely examines poetry's role in society, its formal innovations, its relationship to other arts, and the challenges it faces in a changing world. The essay serves as a meta-commentary on the very medium through which the theme of love is expressed.

Beauty and Artistry

This theme is inherent in the very act of compiling 'the world's best poetry.' It celebrates the aesthetic appeal of language, the craftsmanship of poetic form, and the power of art to render profound emotions beautifully. The anthology itself is a testament to the pursuit and appreciation of beauty through words, showcasing how poets transform raw human experience into enduring works of art.

Worth discussing

How do different poets across various eras define or portray 'love'? Are there universal aspects, or is it culturally and historically contingent?