Nationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature (for instance, Irish or France).
April 27 – The blind, impoverished, 58-year-old John Milton seals a contract for publication of his epic poem Paradise Lost with London printer Samuel Simmons for an initial payment of £5. The first edition is published in October in 10 books and sells out in eighteen months (second edition, in 12 books, published 1674).
Nicholas Billingsley, Thesauro-Phulakion; or, A Treasury of Divine Raptures
Charles Cotton, Scarronides; or, Virgile Travestie published anonymously (see also Scarronides 1665, 1665)
Jeremias de Dekker (died 1666), Lof der Geldzucht ("In praise of avarice" - satire), Dutch
Sir John Denham, On Mr Abraham Cowley His Death, and Burial Amongst the Ancient Poets
John Dryden, Annus Mirabilis; The Year of Wonders, 1666
John Milton, Paradise Lost
Katherine Phillips, Poems: By the most deservedly admired Mrs Katherine Philips the Matchless Orinda, published posthumously
Death years link to the corresponding "[year] in poetry" article:
November 30 – Jonathan Swift (died 1745), Irish cleric, satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer, and poet
John Pomfret (died 1702), English poet and clergyman
Wali Mohammed Wali, also known as Wali Deccani and Wali Aurangabadi (died 1707), Indian, Urdu-language poet
Ned Ward (died 1731), English satirical writer and publican
Birth years link to the corresponding "[year] in poetry" article:
May 2 (O.S.) – George Wither (born 1588), English poet and satirist
May 14 – Georges de Scudéry (born 1601), French novelist, dramatist and poet; elder brother of Madeleine de Scudéry
July 12 (bur.) – Jan Vos (born 1612), Dutch playwright and poet
July 28 – Abraham Cowley (born 1618), English poet
August 31 – Johann von Rist (born 1607), German poet, hymnodist and dramatist
