The Legendary: Maya Angelou

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American poet and author Maya Angelou has been awarded over 30 honorary degrees. She has won three Grammy awards for her spoken word albums, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011.

LOS ANGELES - FEBRUARY 10: Dr. Maya Angelou attends an exhibit entitled "Finding Our Families, Finding Ourselves" at the Museum of Tolerance on February 10, 2003 in Los Angeles, California.

The Legendary: Langston Hughes

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Best known as the leader of the Harlem Renaissance, American poet Langston Hughes was one of the earliest innovators of jazz poetry.

Portrait of American poet, author, and journalist Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967) laughing.

The Legendary: Nikki Giovanni Leans On Her Desk

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American poet Nikki Giovanni is a distinguished professor of English at Virginia Tech. The Civil Rights Movement inspired her early poetry. She is most known for her poem, "Ego Tripping (there may be a reason why)"

American poet Yolanda Cornelia 'Nikki' Giovanni leans on her desk beside a typewriter, in front of a wall decorated with photos, 1973.

The Legendary: Dorothy Parker

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The humorist, writer and critic was very vocal in civil rights. The NAACP claimed her remains in 1988 and designed a memorial garden for them at its Baltimore headquarters.

American journalist, writer and wit Dorothy Parker (1893 - 1967), at a restaurant. with her husband, Alan Campbell. Original Publication: People Disc - HK0426

The Legendary: Emily Dickinson

The popular American poet was very private so much so that the breadth of her work was not apparent until after her death.

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circa 1850: American poet Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886).

The Legendary: Robert Frost

American poet Robert Frost received four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry. Though he grew up in the city, he is often associated with his depiction of the rural life in poetic form.
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circa 1963: Portrait of American poet Robert Frost (1874 - 1963), sitting in front of a globe backdrop for a television program about freedom of the press.

The Legendary: The Bard

William Shakespeare's works have been performed more than any other playwright. The English poet is widely known for his use of iambic pentameter in sonnet form.
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Circa 1585, English poet and playwright William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616).

The Legendary: Edgar Allan Poe

Part of the Roamantic Movement, Poe is well known for his narrative poem, "The Raven." He died in Baltimore. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Portrait of American author Edgar Allan Poe (1809 - 1849) against a green background and under an embossed presentation of his last name, probably taken from a cigar box, 1900.

The Legendary: Sonia Sanchez

American poet Sonia Sanches is associated with the Black Arts Movement. He poetic style often fuses traditional forms with musical elements. She has authored over a dozen books of poetry, as well as plays and children's books.
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WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Sonia Sanchez speaks at The 2013 Peace Ball: Voices of Hope And Resistance at Arena Stage on January 20, 2013 in Washington, DC.

The Controversial: Pablo Neruda

The Chilean poet won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971. Dubbed a Communist, Neruda spent more than a year in hiding in Chile before he was able to escape to Buenos Aires.
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Photo datée du 21 octobre 1971 de l'écrivain, poète et diplomate chilien, Pablo Neruda. Alors ambassadeur du Chili en France, le poète répond aux questions des journalistes à l'ambassade chilienne, après avoir reçu le Prix Nobel de Littérature 1971.

Picture dated 21 October 1971 of Chilean writer, poet and diplomat Pablo Neruda, then ambassador in France, answering journalists' questions at the embassy in Paris after being awarded the 1971 Nobel Literature Prize.

The Controversial: Ezra Pound

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US poet Ezra Loomis Pound, (1885 - 1972), at Genoa, after his return from the USA.

The Controversial: Charles Pierre Baudelaire

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Charles Pierre Baudelaire (1821 - 1867), French poet and critic, a leader of the symbolist school.

The Controversial: Allen Ginsberg

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2nd July 1973: American poet Allen Ginsberg (1926 - 1997).

The Controversial: The Last Poets

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Credited as one of the earliest influences of hip hop. The Last Poets is a group of poets and musicians that emerged during the Civil Rights and Black Nationalist movements. Group members have changed throughout the years, but the message of black pride and progression has stayed the same.

The Controversial: Amiri Baraka

Amiri Baraka was a revolutionary poet author and professor. He was named Poet Laureate of New Jersey in 2002, but it was short lived amid public outrage and pressure for his resignation after his poem on 9-11 "Somebody Blew Up America?" was criticized for anti-Semitism.
(Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

American poet Amiri Baraka (aka LeRoi Jones) wearing a hat and trenchcoat, 1970s.

The Controversial: Staceyann Chin

The Tony Award winning spoken word poet and LGBT rights advocate is of Chinese and Jamaican descent. She is criticized for her use of profanity, open sexuality and sharing her firsthand experience of homophobia in Jamaica.

(Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Poet/performer Staceyann Chin attends the Screening and Panel Discussion for 'The People Speak' at BAM Peter Jay Sharp Building on November 4, 2010 in New York, City.

The Local: The 5th L

Credit: Sancha McBurnie

David "Native Son" Ross and Femi “The Dri Fish” Lawal make up the spoken word duo The 5th L. They are well known in Baltimore and beyond for their performances that fuse theater, hip hop and poetry.

The Local: LOVE the poet

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Michelle Antoinette Nelson, also known as “LOVE the poet,” may be a Baltimore native, but her talent has taken her beyond Charm City. The poet, actor, musician, host and prominent indie artist/author has appeared on CNN as a speaker at the Jena 6 rally in Washington, D.C., authored the book “Black Marks on White Paper,” and is the founder/host of BE FREE Fridays, a monthly open mic series.

The Local: Clarinda Harriss

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Lifelong Baltimore resident Clarinda Harriss is a professor emerita of English at Towson University. She has directed Maryland's oldest literary press, BrickHouse Books, Inc., for more than four decades. An accomplished, award-winning poet, Harriss has authored several poetry collections, including Air Travel, Dirty Blue Voice and Mortmain, and co-edited Hot Sonnets: An Anthology.

The Celebrity: Bob Dylan

The legendary musician and singer/songwriter legally changed his name to Robert Dylan in 1962 in homage to the poet Dylan Thomas, according to the Poetry Foundation. He is often regarded as a poet in his own right for his use of metaphor and rhyme. (Photo by Larry Ellis/Express/Getty Images)

3rd May 1966: American electric folk hero Bob Dylan (born Robert Zimmerman 1941 - ) holding a press conference in London.

The Celebrity: Leonard Nimoy

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Yes, "Spock" published a poetry book in 1978.

LOS ANGELES - AUGUST 9: Actor Leonard Nimoy promotes the "Star Trek" 40th Anniversary on the TV Land network at the Four Seasons hotel August 9, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. Episodes of the show will air September 8.

"Come Be With Me" by Leonard Nimoy

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The Celebrity: Suzanne Somers

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Actress Suzanne Somers has published plenty of books, including a poetry collection in 1973.

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 20: Actress Suzanne Somers arrives at the 18th Annual Producer Guild Awards at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel on January 20, 2007 in Los Angeles, California.

"Touch Me: The Poems Of Suzanne Somers"

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Jewel

Singer Jewel released a collection of free verse poems in 1999.

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HOLLYWOOD - JULY 22: Singer Jewel arrives at burlesque artist Dita Von Teese's performance and debut of the "Cointreau Teese" at Avalon on July 22, 2009 in Hollywood, California.

"A Night Without Armor"

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Charlie Sheen

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Actor Charlie Sheen published a collection of poems in 1999 called "A Peace of My Mind."

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 08: Actor Charlie Sheen appears at Fox's All-Star Party at Castle Green on January 8, 2012 in Pasadena, California.

Alicia Keys

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Not just a singer/songwriter, Alicia Keys is also a poet. She released a book of poems and lyrics in 2005.

HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 07: Singer Alicia Keys performs at will.i.am's annual TRANS4M concert benefitting I.Am.Angel foundation on February 7, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images for TRANS4M)

"Tears For Water: Songbook Of Poems And Lyrics"

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Jill Scott

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The R&B songstress started off as a spoken word poet. He first album "Who Is Jill Scott?" features both songs and poems. So her poetry collection in 2008 came of now surprise.

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 21: Recording artist/actress Jill Scott attends the Sixth Annual ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards Luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel on February 21, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California.

"The Moments, The Minutes, The Hours"

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James Franco

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James Franco is an American actor, director, screenwriter, producer, teacher, author and poet. Yes, published poet.

VENICE, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 01: Actor James Franco attends the 70th Venice International Film Festival at Terrazza Maserati on August 31, 2013 in Venice, Italy.

"Palo Alto"

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Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins

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One third of the R&B trio TLZ, T-Boz often transformed her poetry into song. The group's hit single "Unpretty" is featured in her poetry collection.

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 15: T-Boz attends the CrazySexyCool Premiere Event at AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 theater on October 15, 2013 in New York City.

"Thoughts"

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tupac rose that grew from concrete credit amazon

The controversial hip hop artist's poetry was published after his death but was written between 1989 and 1991--before he became famous.

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