Galway Kinnell, award-winning poet, had a knack for poetry that explores the whole of humanity rather than focusing on trivial, mundane matters. His poems connect seemingly small, unrelated events of everyday life to large-scale, socio-cultural influences, helping the reader comprehend the big picture. What gave rise to this overarching theme of poetry was his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement and anti-war activism.
More specifically, traveling the world, witnessing the struggles of urban life, and enduring harassment as a member of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and an anti-Vietnam war advocate ultimately influenced the essence of his most cherished poetry. Such experiences inspired him to explore the drives of human nature on a much deeper level, uncovering its complexities and nuance with a discerning intellect and vivid imagination. This poetic essence is prevalent within his first few books: What a Kingdom it Was (1960), Flower Herding on Mount Monadnock (1964), and Body Bags (1968). Such poetry books contain his most revered collection of free verse.
Kinnell once told the Los Angeles Times, "I have included in my work the unpleasant because I think if you are ever going to find any kind of truth to poetry it has to be based on all of experience rather than on a narrow segment of cheerful events." For Kinnell, telling his readers the truth about life was his utmost poetic pursuit. In addition, doing so in the spirit of empathy and compassion is why his poetry is held in high regard.
