Five Wallace Stevens Poems That Inspire Good Citizenship

Works of the imagination give expression to our common humanity and represent an important part of the civilizational heritage connecting us to our compatriots.

Why this list matters: Wallace Stevens’s poetry, resonant through images, rhythms and associations going beyond mere words, brings out our common humanity. On a level combining faculties we all share—instinct, intuition, emotion, and intellect—his words open the possibility of transcending our differences for a time. They nurture the mutual respect and empathy that lie at the heart of good citizenship.

Devoted citizenship encompasses love of the people, places, history and works of art that form a nation’s character. Amid deep political and social polarization, art can move us to reflect on what we share as Americans. Wallace Stevens, a quintessentially American insurance executive by profession, was one of the 20th century’s greatest poets. Below are excerpts from five of his masterpieces, all worth reading in full.