The book includes works from 54 poets, mostly born between 1920 and 1950. Their generations witnessed World War II and Japan's postwar depression. Their poems touch on many themes, and use many forms of language. But virtually all have a profound sense of human pathos and concern for humanity.
這本詩集所收錄的五十四位詩人，半數是二○年代前後出生、半數是四○年代出生的詩人，他們共同經過了日本發動參與的二次戰爭和戰後的蕭條，他們的詩作領域寬廣，主題多元、語言及格式變化多端，但都帶有強烈的人性悲憫與人道關懷。