"Poetry encourages us to have dialogue through the observed, the felt, and the imaginary," writes editor Yusef Komunyakaa in his thought-provoking introduction to The Best American Poetry 2003. As a black child of the American South and a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War, Komunyakaa brings his singular vision to this outstanding volume. Included here is a diverse mix of senior masters, crowd-pleasing bards, rising stars, and the fresh voices of an emerging generation. With comments from the poets elucidating their work and series editor David Lehman's eloquent foreword assessing the state of the art, The Best American Poetry 2003 is a must-have for readers of contemporary poetry.

Jonathan Aaron Beth Anderson Nin Andrews Wendell Berry Frank Bidart Diann Blakely Bruce Bond Catherine Bowman Rosemary Catacalos Joshua Clover Billy Collins Michael S. Collins Carl Dennis Susan Dickman Rita Dove Stephen Dunn Stuart Dybek Charles Fort James Galvin Amy Gerstler Louise Glück Michael Goldman Ray Gonzalez Linda Gregg Mark Halliday Michael S. Harper Matthea Harvey George Higgins Edward Hirsch Tony Hoagland Richard Howard Rodney Jones Joy Katz Brigit Pegeen Kelly Galway Kinnell Carolyn Kizer Jennifer L. Knox Kenneth Koch John Koethe Ted Kooser Philip Levine J. D. McClatchy W. S. Merwin Heather Moss Stanley Moss Paul Muldoon Peggy Munson Marilyn Nelson Daniel Nester Naomi Shihab Nye Ishle Yi Park Robert Pinsky Kevin Prufer Ed Roberson Vijay Seshadri Alan Shapiro Myra Shapiro Bruce Smith Charlie Smith Maura Stanton Ruth Stone James Tate William Tremblay Natasha Trethewey David Wagoner Ronald Wallace Lewis Warsh Susan Wheeler Richard Wilbur C. K. Williams Terence Winch David Wojahn Robert Wrigley Anna Ziegler Ahmos Zu-Bolton II