Robeson is a freelance writer with a master's degree in English. In this essay, Robeson discusses Van Duyn's affinity for formal poetry and poetry as a visual and aural art form.

Literary history is replete with distinguished "firsts" made by women poets. Although scholars believe that the art of poetry began around 5000 b.c., the first poet known by name was the high priestess of Inanna, Enheduanna, who lived from approximately 2285—2250 b. c. in Mesopotamia. Fast forward nearly four thousand years to 1650, and Anne Bradstreet makes her mark on literary history, this time in the United States. Bradstreet has the distinction of being the first published American poet. Fast forward yet again, this time to 1991, and Mona Van Duyn enters literary history as the United States's first female poet laureate.

In addition to sharing these notable firsts, these women are accomplished writers who used poetry as...