This is a list of English-language poets, who have written much of their poetry in English. Main country of residence as a poet (not place of birth): A = Australia, Ag = Antigua, B = Barbados, Bo = Bosnia, C = Canada, Ch = Chile, Cu = Cuba, D = Dominica, De = Denmark, E = England, F = France, G = Germany, Ga = Gambia, Gd = Grenada, Gh = Ghana/Gold Coast, Gr = Greece, Gu = Guyana/British Guiana, Gy = Guernsey, HK = Hong Kong, In = India, IoM = Isle of Man, Is = Israel, Ir = Ireland, It = Italy, J = Jamaica, Je = Jersey, Jp = Japan, K = Kenya, L = Lebanon, M = Malta, Me = Mexico, Mo = Montserrat, Ne = Nepal, Nf = Newfoundland (colony), Ni = Nigeria, NI = Northern Ireland, Nt = Netherlands, NZ = New Zealand, P = Pakistan, Pa = Palestine, Ph = Philippines, PI = Pitcairn Islands, RE = Russian Empire, S = Scotland, SA = South Africa, Se = Serbia, SL = Saint Lucia, SLe = Sierra Leone, SLk = Sri Lanka, So = Somalia, Sw = Sweden, T = Trinidad and Tobago, US = United States/preceding colonies, W = Wales, Z = Zimbabwe/Rhodesia

A

Aa–Al Jonathan Aaron (born 1941, US) Chris Abani (born 1966, Ni/US) Henry Abbey (1842–1911, US) Eleanor Hallowell Abbott (1872–1958, US) J. H. M. Abbott (1874–1953, A) Lascelles Abercrombie (1881–1938, E) Arthur Talmage Abernethy (1872–1956, US) Mark Abley (born 1955, C) James Aboud (born 1956, T) Lionel Abrahams (1928–2004, SA) Sam Abrams (1935–2023, US) Seth Abramson (born 1976, US) Dannie Abse (1923–2014, W) Chinua Achebe (1930–2013, Ni/US) Catherine Obianuju Acholonu (1951–2014, Ni) Kathy Acker (1947–1997, US) Diane Ackerman (born 1948, US) Duane Ackerson (1942–2020, US) Milton Acorn (1923–1986, C) Harold Acton (1904–1994, E/It) Gilbert Adair (1944–2011, S/F) Virginia Hamilton Adair (1919–2004, US) Helen Adam (1909–1993, S/US) Jean Adam (1704–1765, S) Arthur Henry Adams (1872–1936, NZ/A) Douglas Adams (1952–2001, E) John Adams (1704–1740, US) Léonie Adams (1899–1988, US) Ryan Adams (born 1974, US) Gil Adamson (born 1961, C) Robert Adamson (1943–2022, A) Fleur Adcock (1934–2024, NZ/E) Joseph Addison (1672–1719, E) Kim Addonizio (born 1954, US) Bayo Adebowale (born 1944, Ni) Toyin Adewale-Gabriel (born 1969, Ni) Opal Palmer Adisa (born 1954, J) Tatamkhulu Afrika (1920–2002, SA) John Agard (born 1949, Gu) Sandra Agard (living, E) Patience Agbabi (born 1965, W/E) Deborah Ager born 1978, US) Kelli Russell Agodon (living, US) Allan Ahlberg (1938–1994, E) Ai (1947–2010, US) Ama Ata Aidoo (1940–2023, Gh) Conrad Aiken (1889–1973, US) Douglas Ainslie (1865–1948, S) Thomas Aird (1802–1876, S) Adam Aitken (born 1960, A) Neil Aitken (born 1974, C) Funso Aiyejina (1949–2024, Ni) Tolu Ajayi (born 1946, Ni) Mark Akenside (1721–1770, E) Salman Akhtar (born 1946, In/US) Tolu Akinyemi (living, Ni) Alasdair MacMhaighstir Alasdair (c. 1695–1770, S) Jordie Albiston (1961–2022, A) Ammiel Alcalay (born 1956, US) Amos Bronson Alcott (1799–1888, US) Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888, US) Kaye Aldenhoven (living, A) Richard Aldington (1892–1962, E) Elizabeth Alexander (born 1962, US) Sidney A. Alexander (1866–1948, E) William Alexander, 1st Earl of Stirling (c. 1567–1640, S) Sherman Alexie (born 1966, US) Felipe Alfau (1902–1999, US) Edna Alford (born 1947, C) Mike Alfred (living, SA) Agha Shahid Ali (1949–2001, In/US) James Alexander Allan (1889–1956, A) Rob Allan (1945–2021, NZ) Sandra Alland (living, C/S) Donna Allard (living, C) Dick Allen (1939–2017, US) Donald Allen (1912–2004, US) Elizabeth Allen (living, A) Elizabeth Akers Allen (1832–1911, US) Leslie Holdsworth Allen (1879–1964, A) Lillian Allen (born 1951, C) Richard James Allen (born 1960, A) Ron Allen (1947–2010, US) Ellen Palmer Allerton (1835–1893, US) William Allingham (1824/28–1889, Ir/E) Washington Allston (1779–1843, US) Anne-Marie Alonzo (1951–2005, C) Alta (Alta Gerrey, 1942–2024, US) Al Alvarez (1929–2019, E) Ivy Alvarez (living, A) Julia Alvarez (born 1950, D/US) Moniza Alvi (born 1954, E)

Am–Az George Amabile (born 1936, C) Abdulkareem Baba Aminu (born 1977, Ni) Kingsley Amis (1922–1995, E) A. R. Ammons (1926–2001, US) Madhur Anand (born 1971, C) Ingrid Andersen (born 1965, SA) Ethel Anderson (1883–1958, A) Freddie Anderson (1922–2001, Ir/S) J. Redwood Anderson (1883–1964, E) Patrick Anderson (1915–1979, E/C) Rod Anderson (born 1935, C) Victor Henry Anderson (1917–2001, US) Michael Andre (born 1946, C/US) Bruce Andrews (born 1948, US) Kevin Andrews (1924–1989, E/Gr) Ron Androla (born 1954, US) Ralph Angel (1951–2020, US) Maya Angelou (1928–2014, US) James Stout Angus (1830–1923, S) Marion Angus (1865–1946, S) J. K. Annand (1908–1993, S) David Antin (1932–2016, US) Antler (born 1946, US) Susanne Antonetta (born 1956, US) Brother Antoninus (1912–1994, US) Raymond Antrobus (living, E) Philip Appleman (1926–2020, US) Richard Appleton (1932–2005, A) Alexander Arbuthnot (1538–1583, S) Walter Conrad Arensberg (1878–1954, US) Rae Armantrout (born 1947, US) Simon Armitage (born 1963, E) Annie Armitt (1850–1933, E) Richard Armour (1906–1989, US) Jeannette Armstrong (born 1948, C) Peter Armstrong (born 1957, E) Tammy Armstrong (born 1974, C) David Arnason (born 1940, C) Craig Arnold (1967–2009, US) Matthew Arnold (1822–1888, E) Joanne Arnott (born 1960, C) K. O. Arvidson (1938–2011, NZ) M. K. Asante (born 1982, US) John Ashbery (1927–2017, US) Cliff Ashby (1919–2012, E) Joseph Ashby-Sterry (1836 or 1838–1917, E) Thomas Ashe (1836–1889, E) Renée Ashley (born 1949, US) Anne Askew (1521–1546, E) Timoshenko Aslanides (1943–2020, A) Herbert Asquith (1881–1947, E) Thea Astley (1925–2004, A) Tilly Aston (1873–1947, A) Edwin Atherstone (1788–1872, E) Cassandra Atherton (living, A) Rupert Atkinson (1881–1961, A) Tiffany Atkinson (born 1972, W) Margaret Atwood (born 1939, C) Dorothy Auchterlonie (1915–1991, A) John Audelay (died c. 1426, E) W. H. Auden (1907–1973, E/US) William Auld (1924–2006, S) Joseph Auslander (1897–1965, US) Paul Auster (1947–2024, US) Alfred Austin (1835–1913, E) Oana Avasilichioaei (living, C) James Avery (1945–2013, US) Tusiata Avia (born 1966, NZ) Margaret Avison (1918–2007, C) Kofi Awoonor (1935–2013, Gh) Ayo Ayoola-Amale (born 1970, Ni) Pam Ayres (born 1947, E) Sir Robert Aytoun (1570–1638, S/E) William Edmondstoune Aytoun (1813–1865, S) Nnorom Azuonye (1967–2024, Ni) Jody Azzouni (born 1954, US)

B

Ba Ken Babstock (born 1970, C) Peter Babyon (fl. 1317 – 1366, E) Jimmy Santiago Baca (born 1952, US) Bellamy Bach (group pseudonym, 1980s, US) Joseph M. Bachelor (Joseph Morris, 1889–1947, US) Elizabeth Bachinsky (born 1976, C) Gabeba Baderoon (born 1969, SA) Grace Shattuck Bail (1898–1996, US) Alfred Bailey (1905–1997, C) Jacob Bailey (1731–1808, US/C) Kevin Bailey (born 1954, E) Philip James Bailey (1816–1902, E) Joanna Baillie (1762–1861, S/E) David Baker (born 1954, US) Henry Baker (1698–1774, E) Marie Annharte Baker (born 1942, C) Peter Bakowski (born 1954, A) John Balaban (born 1943, US) Jesse Ball (born 1978, US) Addie L. Ballou (1838–1916, US) Samuel Bamford (1788–1872, E) John Banim (1798–1842, Ir/E) Chris Banks (born 1970, C) Russell Banks (1940–2023, US) Kaushalya Bannerji (living, C) Anne Bannerman (1765–1829, S) Frances Bannerman (1855–1944, C) Lex Banning (1921–1965, A) Ivy Bannister (born 1951, US/Ir) Shabbir Banoobhai (born 1949, SA) Amiri Baraka (1934–2014, US) Anna Laetitia Barbauld (1743–1825, E) Mary Barber (c. 1685 – c. 1755, Ir) Ros Barber (born 1964, E) Anna Laetitia Barbauld (1743–1825, E) John Barbour (c. 1320–1395, S) Alexander Barclay (1476–1552, S) Leland Bardwell (1922–2016, Ir) Serie Barford (living, NZ) Richard Barham (Thomas Ingoldsby, 1788–1845, E) George Barker (1913–1991, E) Les Barker (1947–2023, E) Coleman Barks (1937–2026, US) Clement Barksdale (1609–1687, E) Joel Barlow (1754–1812, US/F) Lady Anne Barnard (1750–1825, S/SA) Mary Barnard (1909–2002, US) Djuna Barnes (1892–1982, US) Stuart Barnes (born 1977, A) William Barnes (1801–1886, E) Annie Wall Barnett (1859–1942, US) Catherine Barnett (born 1960, US) Richard Barnfield (1574–1627, E) Willis Barnstone (born 1927, US) John Barr (1809–1889, S/NZ) Miriam Barr (born 1982, NZ) Laird Barron (born 1970, US) Bernard Barton (1784–1849, E) John Barton (born 1957, C) Bertha Hirsch Baruch (later 19th – early 20th century, US) Gary Barwin (born 1964, C) Todd Bash (born 1965, US) Michael Basinski (born 1950, US) Shaunt Basmajian (1950–1990, C) Ellen Bass (born 1947, US) Arlo Bates (1850–1918, US) David Bates (1809–1870, US) H. E. Bates (1905–1974, E) Katharine Lee Bates (1859–1929, US) Joseph Bathanti (born 1953, US) Dawn-Michelle Baude (born 1959, US) Bill Bauer (1932–2010, US/C) Edward Baugh (1936–2023, J) Charles Baxter (born 1947, US) James K. Baxter (1926–1972, NZ) Arthur Bayldon (1865–1958, A) William Baylebridge (1883–1942, A)

Be–Bo Eric Beach (1947–2024, A) Thomas Beach (died 1737, W) John Beaglehole (1901–1971, NZ) Anne Beale (1816–1900, E/W) Doug Beardsley (born 1941, C) James Beattie (1735–1803, S) Jan Beatty (born 1952, US) Derek Beaulieu (born 1973, C) Francis Beaumont (1586–1616, E) Bruce Beaver (1928–2004, A) Samuel Beckett (1906–1989, Ir) Joshua Beckman (living, US) Thomas Lovell Beddoes (1803–1849, E/G) Ruth Bedford (1882–1963, A) Jack Bedson (born 1950, A) Patricia Beer (1919–1999, E) Ven Begamudré (born 1956, C) Brendan Behan (1923–1964, Ir) Aphra Behn (1640–1689, E) Sinclair Beiles (1930–2000, SA) Gerard Beirne (born 1962, Ir/C) Henry Beissel (1929–2025, G/C) Billy-Ray Belcourt (living, C) Ken Belford (1946–2020, C) Erin Belieu (born 1965, US) J. J. Bell (1871–1934, S) Julian Bell (1908–1937, E) Marvin Bell (1937–2020, US) Lisa Bellear (1961–2006, A) Lesley Belleau (living, C) Hilaire Belloc (1870–1953, E) John Bemrose (living, C) Gwen Benaway (born 1987, C) Hester A. Benedict (1838–1921, US) Stephen Vincent Benét (1898–1943, US) William Rose Benét (1886–1950, US) Elizabeth Benger (1775–1827, E) Gwendolyn B. Bennett (1902–1981, US) Jim Bennett (born 1951, E) Louise Bennett-Coverley (1919–2006, J) Robbie Benoit (died 2007, C) A. C. Benson (1862–1925, E) Richard Berengarten (born 1943, E) Bill Berkson (1939–2016, US) Charles Bernstein (born 1950, US) Robert Berold (born 1948, SA) Anselm Berrigan (born 1972, US) Daniel Berrigan (1921–2016, US) Ted Berrigan (1934–1983, US) James Berry (1924–2017, J/E) Wendell Berry (born 1934, US) John Berryman (1914–1972, US) Charles Best (1570–1627, E) Mary Matilda Betham (1776–1852, E) Matilda Betham-Edwards (1836–1919, E) Ursula Bethell (1874–1945, NZ) John Betjeman (1906–1984, E) Craven Langstroth Betts (1853–1941, C) Elizabeth Beverley (fl. 1815–1830, E) Judith Beveridge (born 1956, A) Helen Bevington (1906–2001, US) L. S. Bevington (1845–1895, E) Thomas Bibby (1799–1863, Ir) Ruth Bidgood (1922–2022, W) Lettie S. Bigelow (1849–1906, US) Vonani Bila (born 1972, SA) Robert Billings (1949–1986, C) William Billington (1825–1884, E) Margaret Bingham (1740–1814, E) Laurence Binyon (1869–1943, E) Hera Lindsay Bird (born 1987, NZ) Earle Birney (1904–1995, C) Dora Birtles (1903–1992, A) Elizabeth Bishop (1911–1979, US) Morris Bishop (1893–1973, US) Samuel Bishop (1731–1795, E) Bill Bissett (born 1939, C) Sherwin Bitsui (born 1974, US) David MacLeod Black (born 1941, S) Sophie Cabot Black (born 1958, US) Paul Blackburn (1926–1971, US) Thomas Blacklock (1721–1791, S) Leigh Blackmore (born 1959, A) R. P. Blackmur (1904–1965, US) Peter Bladen (1922–2001, A) Isa Blagden (1816 or 1817–1873, It) Max Blagg (born 1948, E/US) Mark Blagrave (born 1956, C) Robert Blair (1699–1746, S) William Blake (1757–1827, E) Susanna Blamire (1747–1794, E) Paddy Blanchfield (1911–1980, NZ) Richard Blanco (born 1968, US) Don Blanding (1894–1957, US) Robin Blaser (1925–2009, C) Ann Eliza Bleecker (1752–1783, US) Adrian Blevins (born 1964, US) John Blight (1913–1995, A) Mathilde Blind (1841–1896, E) Laurie Block (1949–2018, C) E. D. Blodgett (1935–2018, C) Benjamin Paul Blood (1832–1919, US) Valerie Bloom (born 1956, J/E) Robert Bloomfield (1766–1823, E) Elizabeth Blower (c. 1757/63 – post-1816, E)