本書收集英美名詩ㄧ千三百餘首，英美文學中的重要詩作幾乎皆已涵蓋，將每首詩內容扼要加以敘述，並略述其中意義及象徵所在，提供讀著最起碼的導引，無論對自修、考試或寫作報告都很有幫助。
編排的方式是作做者姓氏(Last name)的字母順序(alphabetical order)排列先後，因此Conrad Aiken及Anonymous(佚名作者)列為卷首，W.B.Yeats列為卷末。
長詩或組曲，因摘要往往超過一頁，另於內文邊緣加印詩名，以便檢索。
本書作者Harry Brown 及John Milstead 兩位教授均在美國著名大學英文系任教多年，闡釋作品精當切要，所以本書發行以來深受歡迎。然而出版原只收錄解析一千首，且出版迄今以利有年所，其間文學典範亦有更替：有些以往認為布重要的詩作現在則大受青睞，新增佳購亦復不少。有鑒於此，書林乃敦請原作者再作補遺三百餘則，附於卷末，頁碼亦自獨立。讀者於前卷中查不到的詩作，可再到第二卷中尋索。


What the Poem Means summarizes 1300 of the most commonly reprinted English and American poems(drawn from the Renaissance to the present), thus giving students a sure foothold for further exploration. Student must see what a poem means before they can tap into its more sublte levels. The basic meaning of each poem is clearly explained. In addition, all important images and symbols are presented. Larger poems are broken down into understandable parts. Teachers can offer in depth analysis. Most textbooks already include adequate background material. But, this book supplies students with the very foundation they need to begin to understand and appreciate these treasures of the English speaking world. The poems are listed alphabetically by auther as well as being indexed by title or first line. Here is a ready reference book that students can use time and again.