i>Shadows on the wall Noises down the hall Life doesn't frighten me at all" Maya Angelou's brave, defiant poem celebrates the courage within each of us, young and old. From the scary thought of panthers in the park to the unsettling scene of a new classroom, fearsome images are summoned and dispelled by the power of faith in ourselves. Angelou's strong words are matched by the daring vision of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, whose childlike style reveals the powerful emotions and fanciful imaginings of childhood. Together, Angelou's words and Basquiat's paintings create a place where every child, indeed every person, may experience his or her own fearlessness. In this brilliant introduction to poetry and contemporary art, brief biographies of Angelou and Basquiat accompany the text and artwork, focusing on the strengths they took from their lives and brought to their work. A selected bibliography of Angelou's books and a selected museum listing of Basquiat's works open the door to further inspiration through the fine arts.

2001年，洪子诚教授在北大开设“近年诗歌选读”讨论课，分析讨论张枣、王家新、臧棣、欧阳江河、翟永明、吕德安、孙文波、萧开愚、西川、韩东、柏桦、张曙光、于坚、陈东东等的诗，本书根据课程录音整理。对于把握中国90年代诗歌重要诗人的创作，了解这个时期诗歌艺术探索趋向，以及思考诗歌解读的理念、方法，本书具有积极的意义。本书2002年初版，这次再版，做了一些压缩、修订。