So a lot of the blogging prompts at BlogHer's NaBloPoMo for this month so far have been like, "what poem is best when you're sad?" and so forth.
I don't read poetry that way. I don't turn to a poem or specific author when I have certain feelings or life events. I just kind of have favorite poems, poets, or even just a favorite LINE of poetry that strikes me.
I don't sit around like a college student (no offense) and just read piles of poetry books for days on end (um, I'm a mom, remember)... I just like to have poetry and poetic words "around" to inspire me, dwell on, and make me think.
Here's a few authors whose poetry I enjoy:
- Shakespearean sonnets - for their complexity
- John Donne - for his metaphysical references that intrigue me
- e. e. cummings - for his unusual and whimsical style
- William Carlos Williams - for his often-curious brevity
- Mary Oliver - for the way she makes one think about life and living in a deeper way
- Langston Hughes - for his imagery
- Theodore Roethke - for his poetic devices
You may wonder that some magificent and wonderful poets are missing from my list. I'm sure some are unintentional as I am making this list on the fly.
Some poets, I have just one poem of theirs I love, but the rest I am not a fan of - so I didn't include them in this particular list.
And others, I couldn't QUITE include as I don't LOVE their poetry as some do. For example, Robert Frost, Emily Dickenson - I enjoy studying them, and I have learned a lot about style from their writings... but I don't necessarily have them come to mind as poets I "love." I hope that makes sense.
I also don't really enjoy modern poetry so I haven't read much of it past the 1960s... I may be missing some rare gems in this regard... but what can I say? The classic poets have so much to offer, I feel that my time is taken up with them!
Who are some poets you just LOVE? I'd like to meet some new poets to love!
