Poetry Recs for People who think they don't like poetry

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mktpurple
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Poetry Recs for People who think they don't like poetry

Post by mktpurple »

I have never really been able to get into poetry, which I consider a personal short-coming. Any recommendations for someone trying to develop an appetite for good poems?
EllieA
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Post by EllieA »

Hmm, that's tough! There are so many different types and styles of poetry that it is hard to know what a good gateway for any one person would be. What types of literature do you like? What types of writing style (short and brief, long and flowery, etc)? If you have trouble getting into poetry, start with shorter pieces rather than making yourself work through a long one. Or you can pick a section of a longer story poem to read, as the story may help you sink into the work a little more.

For spooky, Poe is kind of a classic.
Annabel Lee -- about the premature death of his love
The Bells -- evokes the different sounds and emotions of different bells

The Romantic Period:
The Tyger by William Blake -- the strong rhythm makes this easier to read
Ozymandius by Percy Bysshe Shelley -- short poem about legacy
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge -- story about a sailor who kills an albatross and is blamed for the subsequent bad luck -- LONG so pick a section

Also:
Break, Break, Break and Crossing the Bar by Alfred, Lord Tennyson both short , rhythmic, and about death/ grief
The Lady of the Lake and Marmion by Sir Walter Scott -- both long, so select pieces to begin

Love Poems:
Don't Go Far Off and The Queen by Pablo Neruda -- originally in Spanish with English translations, nice rhythm and imagery without the sentimentality of a lot of love poetry

More Recent:
The Road Not Taken and Birches by Robert Frost -- introspective story poems
"Hope" is the thing with feathers by Emily Dickinson
The Panther by Rainer Maria Rilke -- strong imagery and rhythm
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Lgs1089
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Post by Lgs1089 »

I was drawn into poetry after being introduced to Sylvia Plath. I enjoyed her unabridged collection, Ariel.
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