I was pleasantly surprised to find how much I enjoyed learning about famous and not-so-famous poets in doing research for National Poetry Month. I came across two wonderful collections which are designed to introduce the reader to classic poems and provide some insights into the poets’ lives. The first one is 100 Essential Modern Poems, selected and introduced by Joseph Parisi, former editor of Poetry magazine. He starts with writers born in the late 1800’s, such as Yeats and Sandburg. Parisi gives a good overview of the basics.
The second work is The Poets’ Corner: the One and Only Poetry Book for the Whole Family by John Lithgow. The entries are knowledgeable without being overwhelming in length or detail. A bonus with this book is the CD of Lithgow reading poetry. (If he seems familiar it’s because he appears on TV.)
Shira S., RA