Sparks from the Anvil: The Smith College Poetry Interviews is a collection of discussions with contemporary poets, ranging from established elders like W.S. Merwin and Maxine Kumin to dazzling newcomers like Aracelis Girmay and the Dickman brothers, Matthew and Michael. In conversation with Christian McEwen, they describe their habitual writing practice, influences, and development, as well as their sense of the American poetry scene, and whatever else comes up in the course of a long, thoughtful, richly meandering exchange. The sixteen interviewed poets are: Annie Boutelle Matthew Dickman Michael Dickman Patrick Donnelly Rita Dove Nikky Finney Aracelis Girmay Edward Hirsch Jane Hirshfield Yusef Komunyakaa Maxine Kumin Gwyneth Lewis W.S. Merwin Patricia Smith Chase Twichell Jean Valentine