This beautiful fiftieth-anniversary edition of Gary Snyder’s first poetry collection includes a CD with Snyder’s 2009 readings of and introductions to each poem, as well as a gorgeous cover featuring Tom Killion’s artwork. Riprap and Cold Mountain Poems is an elegant gift for the poetry veteran and newbie alike. —M.M.

Entering its fourth year, Best New Poets has
established itself as a crucial venue for rising poets and a valuable resource for poetry lovers. The only publication of its kind, this annual anthology is made up exclusively of work by writers who have not yet published a full-length book. Best New Poets 2009, a fresh and eclectic collection of emerging voices edited by Kim Addonizio, would make a great gift for an aspiring writer or anyone interested in contemporary poetry.