Favorite Poem Project

This project is among NEFA's archived projects. Learn about our current programs

Robert Pinsky, the 39th Poet Laureate of the United States, founded the Favorite Poem Project shortly after the Library of Congress appointed him to the post in 1997. Since its launch, the Favorite Poem Project has been dedicated to celebrating, documenting and promoting poetry's role in Americans' lives. A partnership among Boston University, the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Arts, NEFA was the project's primary administrative partner from its inception until October 1999.

During the one-year open call for submissions, 18,000 Americans wrote to the project volunteering to share their favorite poems — Americans from ages 5 to 97, from every state, of diverse occupations, education, and backgrounds.From those thousands of letters and emails, the Project partners culled several enduring collections, including a video archive, several poetry anthologies, an award winning website, and a database of favorite poems.

For more information about the Favorite Program Project, please visit www.favoritepoem.org.