Did you know April is National Poetry Month? This post is the second in a three-part series on Poetry for Beginners. Don’t forget to read Part One: Discovering the Joy of Poetry and Part Three: How to Read (and Enjoy) Poetry.
You want to read poetry, but you don’t know where to start? It can be daunting to pick up a book of poetry. There are so many different types, so many books to choose from. How in the world do we choose a place to start?
Today I’m sharing five of my favorite books of poetry. Each of these is a great place to start if you’re new to poetry, or if you’re an avid poetry reader looking for something new.
What Kind of Woman
Kate Baer
What Kind of Woman was the first book of poetry I read for myself in 2021. I had been sharing poetry with my kids in homeschool lessons and poetry tea times, but it had been a very long time since I picked up a book of “adult” poetry. This book appealed to me because of it’s length (it’s only __ pages!), because of the pretty cover, and because the ladies of Exhale were reading it for book club. The first time I read it, I listened to the entire thing while laying in bed waiting on my youngest daughter to fall asleep. Then I read it another time, and another, and I still go back to it from time to time. I even wrote a poem inspired by one of the poems in the book, and it was published in The Elpis Pages last December!
Why is it good for beginners? It’s easy to read. It makes you feel. It’s not pretentious. It’s relatable. It is about being a woman and about being a mother, so if reading about womanhood or motherhood isn’t your thing, you shouldn’t pick this one up first.
Rupi Kaur
I read milk and honey on a road trip last fall and found myself sobbing in the passenger seat of the van. Rupi Kaur managed to capture every emotion I’ve felt about boys, fathers, and broken relationships. I was impressed by her ability to pack a hefty punch using very few words. It is filled with beautiful artwork (also by Kaur). Fun fact - milk and honey was originally self-published, but after it received an incredible response, a publishing house contacted Kaur and asked if they could re-release it. She inspires me.
Why is it good for beginners? The poems are short and are easily digestible. It speaks to the human experiences of longing and desire. It’s a quick read, and leaves you feeling like you just had a deep, intimate conversation with a good friend.
Jacqueline Woodson
Not knowing this was poetry when I first picked it up several years ago, Brown Girl Dreaming quickly became a favorite. A memoir through poems, Woodson tells the story of growing up African American in the 1960s-1970s. It took me a few poems to find my way into the story, but this is a true masterpiece of a book. The poems begin with her birth in Ohio, talk of her childhood in South Carolina and then later in Brooklyn, New York. It’s a powerful story of resilience and love and the poetry is stunning.
Why is it good for beginners? Because it’s a story, the poetry feels easy to read and keep up with. After the first few pages, you forget you’re reading poetry.
by a bunch of amazing poets (most of whom are dead)
Despite the name, this isn’t just a book of poems for kids. Great poetry can be appreciated by people of all ages, and this book pulls together some of the best poems out there. As the title says, they are all great to read aloud, which makes them great fun for Poetry Tea Time. It’s separated into eleven sections: Natures People, Meet the Family, Just Me, Friendship and Love, Love of Country, Laughing Lyrics, Poetry of the Earth—And Sky, Poems that Tell Stories, Let’s Pretend, Special Places, and Poems to Ponder. It was in this book that I first fell in love with Emily Dickinson (There’s No Frigate Like a Book). These sections, as well as the poet index at the end, makes it easy to open and find a poem to fit your mood.
Why is it good for beginners? These poems are selected to be easy to understand and enjoy. I’ll read these poems long after my children are grown.
by Jane McMorland Hunter (compiler)
When I want to read poetry but I don’t know what I want to read, this is my go-to book. A Nature Poem for Every Day of the Year is simply stunning and it makes a beautiful coffee table book. I’ve even caught guests picking it up to read while hanging out on my couch! It includes 365 poems—one for every day of the year—and they are all about nature and the changing seasons. I find it a great way to begin (or end) the day, with a simple reflection on how the season changes. These poems help me stop and notice the little things happening around me.
Why is it good for beginners? It’s so easy to choose a poem to read because they are all dated. No more perusing books for hours trying to decide which poem to enjoy. Simply open to today’s date, and read the poem. Then you’re done - you’ve read some poetry for the day!
Photo Credit and a full-length review of this book can be found here.
There you have it. Five books of poetry to get started with. Which will you choose first?
For you avid poetry readers - do you have any favorite poetry books? I’d love to hear what they are in the comments below!
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