Spanning four decades of writing--and including never-before-seen poems--The Essential C.D. Wright carries the reverence and wisecracking lyricism of poems that reshaped American poetry.

The Essential C.D. Wright, with a moving introduction by Forrest Gander, gathers rare selections from across her entire oeuvre--from the first book, Room Rented by a Single Woman (1978), through the final collection, Shall Cross, which was in production at the time of her unexpected death in 2016. It also presents readers with the very first look at a remarkable selection of works that have been entirely unpublished until now. Tracing a writing life that spans more than four decades, this collection illuminates works that remain empowered by an unrelenting independence, a reverence for mentors, and wry wisecracking lyricism. It is a powerful entry in Copper Canyon's revered Essential series, which has provided reader-friendly editions of some of contemporary poetry's most important voices.

C.D. Wright introduced a contemporary audience to the promise and power of docupoetics, while pushing the musical boundaries of vernacular speech and reshaping American poetry. Formally restless and energetic, The Essential C.D. Wright stands as a staple in the larger poetic landscape.