David Lehman

David Lehman, a contributing editor of the Scholar, is a poet, critic, and the general editor of The Best American Poetry annual anthology and author of the book One Hundred Autobiographies. He currently writes our Talking Pictures column.

“Muse Circe Reclaims Her Lucre”

Five new prompts

By David Lehman | Friday February 21, 2025

Above the River of Your Longing

Two new prompts

By David Lehman | Thursday January 16, 2025

“What a Strange Path”

Three new prompts

By David Lehman | Monday December 16, 2024

“I Have Had My Vision”

Three prompts

By David Lehman | Friday November 22, 2024

In Reprise: Next Line, Please

A new poetry prompt for players new and old

By David Lehman | Friday October 25, 2024

Tunneling to Freedom

In The Great Escape (1963), the true story of a harrowing breakout from a German POW camp

By David Lehman | Thursday June 6, 2024

Homage to the Uncanny

Dead of Night (1945), a masterpiece of horror

By David Lehman | Thursday February 29, 2024

How Well Do You Know Your Hitchcock?

A multiple-choice test for the maestro’s fans

By David Lehman | Friday January 19, 2024

“Mr. Lucky” Didn’t Know Who He Was

How Cary Grant’s magical film career paralleled a lifelong identity crisis

By David Lehman | Thursday September 28, 2023

Brilliant Carnage

Sam Peckinpah’s slow-motion bullet ballet

By David Lehman | Thursday February 23, 2023

Mary’s Tip

By David Lehman | Tuesday March 3, 2015

Stanza 5: “Six Options”

By David Lehman | Tuesday February 24, 2015

Sestina: Stanza 4

By David Lehman | Tuesday February 17, 2015

“Her Winsome Style”

By David Lehman | Tuesday February 10, 2015

Chemosabe

By David Lehman | Tuesday February 3, 2015

Winning Stanza Refuses to Cave

By David Lehman | Tuesday January 27, 2015

Let’s Write a Sestina

By David Lehman | Tuesday January 20, 2015

Airport Buoyancy

By David Lehman | Tuesday January 13, 2015

When Two Strangers Meet

By David Lehman | Tuesday January 6, 2015

Hot Toddy

By David Lehman | Tuesday December 16, 2014

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