Abstract: (Canon and Poetry: Anthology Books of the 20th Century Italian Poetry. A Comparison between Italy, Germany and Romania) After the first half of the 20th century, the question whether it is still possible to write poetry is strongly discussed. In the Seventies some of the most important anthologies dedicated to 20th-century Italian poetry are published, a debate on poetry is vivid and reflects, at different levels, on the concept of canon. In particular, the anthology edited by Pier Vincenzo Mengaldo Poeti italiani del Novecento of 1978 is often reported as the last poetic anthology to propose a shared canon. In what way an interruption or change of the canon of poetry takes place after the publication of this anthology? On the basis of this question the word “canon” is defined in relation to 20th-century Italian poetry according to the overlapping of the two acknowledged meanings of the word defined among others by Romano Luperini. What is the relationship between Italian poetry in the 20th century and the concept of canon? In answering this question, a reference to the discussion taking place throughout the whole century on the relationship between poetry and canon is made and the anthological choices of three different countries are taken into consideration: Italy, Germany (BRD and DDR) and Romania. Since the choices in anthologies are not a neutral collection of authors and texts, it is interesting to see how the canon of 20th century Italian poetry changes in Italy and how it reflects or varies in Germany and Romania.