1984 in poetry

Nationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature (for instance, Irish or France). December 19 – Ted Hughes' appointment as Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom in succession to Sir John Betjeman is announced, Philip Larkin having turned down the post. After Ghazi al-Gosaibi, the Saudi Arabian minister of health, publishes a poem, "A Pen Bought and Sold", that criticizes the corruption and privilege of the country's elite, he is dismissed from his post. Prvoslav Vujčić's second collection of poems, Kastriranje vetra ("Castration of the Wind"), written during a week's imprisonment in Tuzla for criticising the state, is prohibited in Yugoslavia. Scottish Poetry Library established. Listed by nation where the work was first published and again by the poet's native land, if different; substantially revised works listed separately: Robert Gray, The Skylight Jeff Guess, Leaving Maps, Adelaide: Friendly Street Poets Chris Wallace-Crabbe, D. Goodman and D.J. Hearn, editors, Clubbing of the Gunfire: 101 Australian War Poems, Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, anthology Roo Borson, The Whole Night, Coming Home, (nominated for a Governor General's Award) American-Canadian Dionne Brand, Chronicles of the Hostile Sun Leonard Cohen, Book of Mercy Robert Finch, Double Tuning. Erin, ON: Porcupine's Quill. Robert Finch, Sailboat and Lake.. Erin, ON: Porcupine's Quill. Paulette Jiles, Celestial Navigation George Johnston, Ask Again. Irving Layton, The Love Poems of Irving Layton: With Reverence & Delight. Oakville, Ontario: Mosaic Press, 1984. Irving Layton, A Spider Danced a Cosy Jig. Toronto: Stoddart. Dorothy Livesay, Feeling the Worlds: New Poems. Fredericton: Goose Lane. Miriam Mandel, The Collected Poems of Miriam Mandel. Sheila Watson, ed. Edmonton: Longspoon Press. Michael Ondaatje, Secular Love, Toronto: Coach House Press, , ; New York: W. W. Norton, 1985 James Reaney, Imprecations: The Art of Swearing. Black Moss Press. Charles Sangster, The St.