Alta Journal’s Top Poetry 2021

Poems from James Cagney, Ada Limón, and the late Jim Harrison are among the works featured in the past year’s pages of Alta.

year in review, poetry
Alta

In 2021, Alta Journal published 20 poems, including a special keepsake collection of the final works of poet Jim Harrison. Some of those poems are included here, as are ruminations on Christ, companionship, and cancel culture. Lose yourself in these pieces from some of the West’s most talented poets.

“CANCEL CULTURE (THE BARDO),” BY CEDAR SIGO
andy warhol, last supper
Andy Warhol
“DOG IN THE TOMB,” BY JIM HARRISON
jim harrison
Joe Ciardiello
“GHOSTS,” BY JIM HARRISON
jim harrison poem ghosts
Joe Ciardiello
“HOW TO DRAW THE HORIZON,” BY MIA NOLTING
mia nolting
Mia Nolting
“PORTRAIT OF A BRACERO AS JOSÉ OLIVARES,” BY JOHN OLIVARES ESPINOZA
farmers
J. R. Eyerman
“PREFACE TO A PHOTOGRAPH — DELANO, CA 1976,” BY JAMES CAGNEY
poet, james cagney
James Cagney
“STILLWATER COVE,” BY ADA LIMÓN
stillwater cove poem, ada limón
Yuri Smityuk
“[TRANCE POEM WITH THE GRAY STONE],” BY BRENDA HILLMAN
poppies
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Beth Spotswood is Alta's digital editor, events manager, and a contributing writer.
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