In Volume Four, a powerful poem for peace by one of the great voices of contemporary literature, Maya Angelou, seizes the soul; Margaret Atwood's insightful, often amusing essay on poetics inspires; Beat legend Carolyn Cassady's intriguing new prose piece explores the energies that create and sustain all life; a high-speed letter from Beat icon Neal Cassady sweeps one away with his thoughts on intellect and the arts; acclaimed renaissance man Leonard Cohen's poem excites both the imagination and emotions; James Dean's hardhitting poem gives a brutal glimpse into the acidic mixture of love and hate the legendary actor had for his father (a scan of Dean's actual poem appears with photos from a private collection); Bangladesh poet Taslima Nasrin, who had to flee her country following death threats by Islamic fanatics, contributed a poem which reveals the rape of two young sisters ordered by a judge to be whipped in public for speaking out against the man who raped them; Finally, Sue Russell shatters the Hollywood portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the movie Monster with her probing essay. - from Amzon