May/June 2004 Editor's Note The 2004 Jefferson Lecture The Critic's Craft Poetry critic Helen Vendler, this year's Jefferson Lecturer, speaks with NEH Chairman Bruce Cole about the power of words. The Poem Unfolded A poet writes about the critic's talent for listening closely. By Henri Cole The Lyrical Imagination William Blake: Visions and Verses The literary and visual works of the eccentric poet and printmaker are now available online. By Rachel Galvin Lending an Ear: The Online Poetry Classroom Poets and teachers work together to cultivate a love of poetry in students. By Rachel Galvin Around the Nation In Focus Barbara Carpenter collects oral histories that show Mississippi's diverse ethnic heritage. By Melanie Abrams Tickling the American Fancy Kaleidoscopes and other objects reveal the aesthetic of the early nineteenth century. By Nikki Moustaki