Does poetry still matter?

By Brandon Griggs, CNN

Updated 1024 GMT (1824 HKT) June 25, 2015

<strong>Juan Felipe Herrera</strong>, son of migrant farm workers in California, has been named the next U.S. poet laureate. Herrera, 66, whose parents emigrated from Mexico, will be the nation's first Latino poet laureate since the position was created in 1936. Here's a look at some other famous poets from the 16th century to the present.
Photos: Famous poets throughout history
Juan Felipe Herrera, son of migrant farm workers in California, has been named the next U.S. poet laureate. Herrera, 66, whose parents emigrated from Mexico, will be the nation's first Latino poet laureate since the position was created in 1936. Here's a look at some other famous poets from the 16th century to the present.
Hide Caption
1 of 15
<strong>William Shakespeare</strong> (1564-1616) is best known for his plays, but he's not nicknamed the Bard of Avon for nothing. Shakespeare also wrote more than 150 sonnets and love poems, with such enduring lines as "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?"
Photos: Famous poets throughout history
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is best known for his plays, but he's not nicknamed the Bard of Avon for nothing. Shakespeare also wrote more than 150 sonnets and love poems, with such enduring lines as "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?"
Hide Caption
2 of 15
<strong>John Keats</strong> (1795-1821) was an English romantic poet whose reputation has far outlasted his brief life. He is most admired for his series of odes, most notably "Ode on a Grecian Urn," with its famous final lines: "Beauty is truth, truth beauty -- that is all / ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."
Photos: Famous poets throughout history
John Keats (1795-1821) was an English romantic poet whose reputation has far outlasted his brief life. He is most admired for his series of odes, most notably "Ode on a Grecian Urn," with its famous final lines: "Beauty is truth, truth beauty -- that is all / ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."
Hide Caption
3 of 15
Englishwoman <strong>Elizabeth Barrett Browning</strong> (1806-61) was the wife of writer Robert Browning and an acclaimed Victorian poet in her own right. Many believe her literary reputation exceeded that of her husband. The opening lines of one of her love sonnets -- "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways" -- are still widely quoted today.
Photos: Famous poets throughout history
Englishwoman Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-61) was the wife of writer Robert Browning and an acclaimed Victorian poet in her own right. Many believe her literary reputation exceeded that of her husband. The opening lines of one of her love sonnets -- "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways" -- are still widely quoted today.
Hide Caption
4 of 15
American poet <strong>Edgar Allan Poe</strong> (1809-49) also wrote short stories and essays and is widely credited with inventing the modern detective story. A master of dark, spooky atmosphere, he became a sensation after the 1845 publication of his narrative poem "The Raven."
Photos: Famous poets throughout history
American poet Edgar Allan Poe (1809-49) also wrote short stories and essays and is widely credited with inventing the modern detective story. A master of dark, spooky atmosphere, he became a sensation after the 1845 publication of his narrative poem "The Raven."
Hide Caption
5 of 15
<strong>Walt Whitman</strong> (1819-91), often called the father of free verse, was one of the most influential American poets. His landmark collection "Leaves of Grass" was considered obscene by some at the time for its overt sexuality. And that "O Captain! My Captain!" line from the end of "Dead Poets Society"? It's Whitman's.
Photos: Famous poets throughout history
Walt Whitman (1819-91), often called the father of free verse, was one of the most influential American poets. His landmark collection "Leaves of Grass" was considered obscene by some at the time for its overt sexuality. And that "O Captain! My Captain!" line from the end of "Dead Poets Society"? It's Whitman's.
Hide Caption
6 of 15
Although she never traveled far from her Massachusetts home and was not well-known in her lifetime, the reclusive <strong>Emily Dickinson</strong> (1830-86) is now one of the most admired American poets. Among her best-known lines: " 'Hope' is the thing with feathers / That perches in the soul / And sings the tune without the words / And never stops -- at all ..."
Photos: Famous poets throughout history
Although she never traveled far from her Massachusetts home and was not well-known in her lifetime, the reclusive Emily Dickinson (1830-86) is now one of the most admired American poets. Among her best-known lines: " 'Hope' is the thing with feathers / That perches in the soul / And sings the tune without the words / And never stops -- at all ..."
Hide Caption
7 of 15
Irish-born author and critic <strong>Oscar Wilde</strong> (1854-1900) is best known for his biting wit, plays like "The Importance of Being Earnest" and his gross indecency trial over his homosexual relationships. But he was a fine poet as well, especially early in his career.
Photos: Famous poets throughout history
Irish-born author and critic Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) is best known for his biting wit, plays like "The Importance of Being Earnest" and his gross indecency trial over his homosexual relationships. But he was a fine poet as well, especially early in his career.
Hide Caption
8 of 15
The Pulitzer Prize-winning poems of <strong>Robert Frost</strong> (1874-1963) were rooted in the rural imagery of his beloved New England. His best-known poems, including "The Road Not Taken" and "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening," have inspired countless school-yearbook quotes.
Photos: Famous poets throughout history
The Pulitzer Prize-winning poems of Robert Frost (1874-1963) were rooted in the rural imagery of his beloved New England. His best-known poems, including "The Road Not Taken" and "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening," have inspired countless school-yearbook quotes.
Hide Caption
9 of 15
Although born in Missouri, <strong>T.S. Eliot </strong>(1888-1965) moved as a young man to England, where he spent the rest of his life. Acclaimed for such complex, modernist masterpieces as "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" and "The Waste Land," Eliot received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1945. Every time someone says "April is the cruelest month," they're quoting Eliot.
Photos: Famous poets throughout history
Although born in Missouri, T.S. Eliot (1888-1965) moved as a young man to England, where he spent the rest of his life. Acclaimed for such complex, modernist masterpieces as "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" and "The Waste Land," Eliot received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1945. Every time someone says "April is the cruelest month," they're quoting Eliot.
Hide Caption
10 of 15
<strong>E.E. Cummings</strong> (1894-1962) was a prolific poet who was perhaps best known for his playful experiments with grammar, syntax and form. (Some of his poems contained no capital letters, and his name was often printed as e.e. cummings.) He was one of the most popular American poets of the 20th century.
Photos: Famous poets throughout history
E.E. Cummings (1894-1962) was a prolific poet who was perhaps best known for his playful experiments with grammar, syntax and form. (Some of his poems contained no capital letters, and his name was often printed as e.e. cummings.) He was one of the most popular American poets of the 20th century.
Hide Caption
11 of 15