Versed, Re-versed & Unversed «
please recommend
me a book of poetry. By one writer or an anthology or whatever. Any style (as long as it doesnt suck), old or new. I crave to read something new and exciting (and to not be productive).
Thannnnksssss.
Shannon
Anstey from Lowell, MA Associate, 5571 posts |
I bought a collection fo ee cummings called 100 selected poems, and it was absolutely mind-bogglingly good. I also have the complete works of Ann Sexton -- and she, at least in my book is far superior to plath if you like confessional poetry. If you want to read something that's not often talked about, William Snodgrass, who happened to be Sexton's mentor is absolutely wonderful. (He has a poem called "eye of the needle" i think that's the title anyways... it's amazing) If you are interested in working forms, for example, haiku, then there's a 'Complete Haiku" book with Shiki, Buson, and Issa that's moderately insanely fantastic. Leanne reminded me of Milton the otherday, I think I might go back and read some by him. ----- - stephan |
Leanne from Just west of the lounge room Associate, 3019 posts |
Well, I'm always going to recommend Philip Larkin -- I have his "Collected Poems" so it's the lot, though if you don't want that many I'd recommend "High Windows", the best period of his writing in my never humble opinion. I think I've mentioned "The Monkey's Mask" by Dorothy Porter to you before -- lesbian detective fiction in poetry. Brilliant stuff. |
| Anstey from Lowell, MA Associate, 5571 posts |
" I think I've mentioned "The Monkey's Mask" by Dorothy Porter to you before -- lesbian detective fiction in poetry. Brilliant stuff. " Well, you've just sent every man that reads this skuttering off to search for that book. What man can resist all that... Monkeys... Lesbians... AND detectives? Sounds pretty much like a poetry-orgasm.
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Tracey from Spanktown Associate, 1891 posts |
Ever read Sandra Cisneros's books of poetry? I have My Wicked, Wicked Ways and Loose Woman (autographed: "Para la Tracey on the loose! 4-3-95 NYC"). I wouldn't call her poetry intellectual, but rather sultry, sexy and raw with titles like "I Am So in Love I Grow a New Hymen," "Christ YOu Delight Me" and "Black Lace Bra Kind of Woman." Excellent spring break reading. Neruda's odes are always hot, rich. Get a copy where you can read them in both Spanish and English -- even if you can't read Spanish properly, I think it gives you a sense of how much more sensual his words sound in his native tongue. If you're looking for subtle with a sting, covering topics like depression, love, illness and such, Jane Kenyon's Otherwise is a goodie. It's no secret that I love Sharon Olds, her unwrapping of even the sacred down to its raw ugliness and glory. Wellspring is a good place to start with her, I think, though I'm fond of any of her books. "Beauty is not being flawless - it's the opposite with a touch grace." ~Coco Haynie |
| Tracey from Spanktown Associate, 1891 posts |
I may have meant Neruda's Love Sonnets...I'm so confusel.... "Beauty is not being flawless - it's the opposite with a touch grace." ~Coco Haynie |
| Tracey from Spanktown Associate, 1891 posts |
GASP! My avatar has disappeared!!! "Beauty is not being flawless - it's the opposite with a touch grace." ~Coco Haynie |
Derma Kaput from Possum Grape, Arkansas Associate, 1497 posts |
-The Stray Dog Cabaret: A book of Russian poems Translated by Paul Schmidt -Memoir of the Hawk James Tate Of all the poetry I've read in the last 3 months, these were the books I couldn't put down. Seriously. Poetry books that you cannot put down. The James Tate book will make you laugh your ass off. |
| Anstey from Lowell, MA Associate, 5571 posts |
" The James Tate book will make you laugh your ass off. " If you can promise this, there are millions of people looking for a new diet...
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| Derma Kaput from Possum Grape, Arkansas Associate, 1497 posts |
Yes, it's true. James Tate is better than liposuction. |
| Derma Kaput from Possum Grape, Arkansas Associate, 1497 posts |
By the way, shannon, reading poetry actually is productive, especially for poets. |
| Anstey from Lowell, MA Associate, 5571 posts |
" by the way, shannon, reading poetry actually is productive, especially for poets. " It's the single most important part of writing poetry.
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Jasmine Mann 225 posts |
I def need some inspiration by reading poetry instead of playing video games. Believe it or not Viggo Mortensen, you know: Aragorn, writes some really good stuff. He does some amazing photography and he's so underground that it'll make you feel like a beatnik reading his stuff. Although reading e.e. cummings does that to me, too. |
| Anstey from Lowell, MA Associate, 5571 posts |
Am I insane, but I actually think I'll be looking up Vigo's book? What is wrong with me.
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ShannonV from mars 466 posts |
Yayy. Thanks for all the suggestions guys  And I had to google Viggo Mortensen cuz I didn't know who that was. I have actually seen none of the movies he's been in, ever. I lead a sheltered life. I shall check him out. And if any of ya'll want suggestions.. I don't have any. For poetry. But for prose.. TOTALLY check out Fup by Jim Dodge. I just re-read it the other day and was like DAMN. You can order it on amazon for like, 5 bucks. It's SO worth it. I read it in an intro to lit. class and fell in LOVE. It's one of my fav. books ever. Made me laugh a lot, and very touching at the same time. In a non-cheesy way. I later realized the guy who wrote it is a prof. at my school and I have since been trying to get into a class of his.. but he teaches like, advanced level writing courses and I'm scaared. And I want to email him and be like YOU ARE SO AMAZING but I'm afraid that would be interpreted as sucking up. Anyway SRSLY.OH SNAP. Check out this review of it on Amazon "This is the book you want to read to that kid in high school who doesn't understand why books are anything. This is the book you want to read to the person you think might fall in love with you. This is the book you want to read to your friends so you will laugh together like you never have. This is the book to read when the world is too serious. This is the book to read when you are too serious about yourself. This is the book to read when you feel dull and uninterested. This is the book to read if you've gotten too big for your britches. This is the book to read if you feel more Christian than someone who cusses. This is the book to read if you want things you can't name. This is good medicine: a short shot, powerful. FUP is the American book. " If that doesn't sell it, nothing willll boyy. |
| Jasmine Mann 225 posts |
Surely you saw LOTR? Or heard of it? He played Aragorn. Aside from that i don't know any other movies he was in. But he's a really talented guy. |
| Anstey from Lowell, MA Associate, 5571 posts |
" and apparently, Jasmine thinks he's Rawr-licious. She'd totally go with him if he knocked on her door. :)
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| Jasmine Mann 225 posts |
I have to admit i'd jump his bones. |
| Leanne from Just west of the lounge room Associate, 3019 posts |
For old, and I mean really old, you could try to get a hold of The Decameron by Boccaccio... stories in poems, if you can get a good translation, and they're funny. Although the sense of humour a thousand years ago might have been a tiny bit different... that or Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, same kind of thing. Wunderbar. |
| Anstey from Lowell, MA Associate, 5571 posts |
Chaucer makes me giggly.
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| Leanne from Just west of the lounge room Associate, 3019 posts |
Anstey: It's rude to drink out of the Chaucer. |
| ShannonV from mars 466 posts |
Hee. Well I've def. heard of LOTR and noticed he was in them when I imdb'd him. But I have never seen them, and refuse to.
But he iss pretty cute looking. I'd hit it, too. |
| Anstey from Lowell, MA Associate, 5571 posts |
I'm good not hitting it with him.
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| Leanne from Just west of the lounge room Associate, 3019 posts |
Clerks II has a great synopsis of LOTR Shannon, it's all you'll ever need to know. Viggo's poetry is actually not too shabby. If you're really hard up you could always read Jewel's... or maybe Avril Lavigne, she's so poetic... |
| Pgriffis 4 posts |
Anstey:That haiku book, is that the real title or is it something else? Any idea who wrote it? Just wondering |
| Anstey from Lowell, MA Associate, 5571 posts |
" Anstey:That haiku book, is that the real title or is it something else? Any idea who wrote it? It's a real book, it's upstairs in my bedroom, i'll get the title and the translator tomorrow. It's something like "The Ultimate Haiku Book" -- it's moderately insanely good.
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| Anstey from Lowell, MA Associate, 5571 posts |
" Viggo's poetry is actually not too shabby. If you're really hard up you could always read Jewel's... or maybe Avril Lavigne, she's so poetic... " I am sensing sarcasm -- my meter for such things just went through the roof.
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| Leanne from Just west of the lounge room Associate, 3019 posts |
Moi? Why no, I think they're the Hallmark of good poetry. |
| Anstey from Lowell, MA Associate, 5571 posts |
" Moi? Isn't it ironic that the word 'hallmark' is now associated with cliché?
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| Leanne from Just west of the lounge room Associate, 3019 posts |
I think it's ironic that the word ironic is associated with Alanis Morrisette, who is also quite a decent cliche. |
| Anstey from Lowell, MA Associate, 5571 posts |
" I think it's ironic that the word ironic is associated with Alanis Morrisette, who is also quite a decent cliche. " I wish I had an irony will.
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| ShannonV from mars 466 posts |
" I think it's ironic that the word ironic is associated with Alanis Morrisette, who is also quite a decent cliche. " Thanks Leanne, I just read that and chortled (yes, chortled) quite loudly, causing a fellow computer lab monkey to eye me curiously. hehehe. Also I need to see Clerks II. And the first Clerks. And I don't want to sound like a witch but, why does everyone like Haikus so much? I find them rather boring.. I guess I just hate nature poetry. And they are often naturely. Or maybe I havent been reading very interesting ones. Haikus always leave me going.. yeah, so? Like, look, I'll write one: The grasshopper waits On a green dewdropped stem, blinks: nature is boring. Like stats. Which I should be doing. dlasjkfad. |
| Anstey from Lowell, MA Associate, 5571 posts |
Haiku are boring if you don't like nature poetry -- since that's pretty much exactly what they are.  It's ok for you to hate them. They aren't for everyone. It's like Sushi and Bran muffins And lesbians.
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| Tracey from Spanktown Associate, 1891 posts |
"chaucer makes me giggly. - stephan" I remember being one of the only kids in class who got Chaucer in high school  , and wondering how far the teacher would take the discussion. The coward did not take it all the way. I was alone with my giggles."Beauty is not being flawless - it's the opposite with a touch grace." ~Coco Haynie |
| Anstey from Lowell, MA Associate, 5571 posts |
" I remember being one of the only kids in class who got Chaucer in high school I promise... i'll giggle with you anytime my darling.
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| Jasmine Mann 225 posts |
I'm currently reading Charles Bukowski's "what matters is how well you walk through the fire". I've never read Bukowski (yes, you read that right) and i'm completely enthralled. Also, i love sushi. Well, poop. |
| Anstey from Lowell, MA Associate, 5571 posts |
" I've never read Bukowski (yes, you read that right) and i'm completely enthralled. " Sometimes, I love him. Sometimes, I hate him. Regardless, I think he's worth reading.
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| Derma Kaput from Possum Grape, Arkansas Associate, 1497 posts |
All content and no great sense of poetic form. except on occasion. I love him. "I only ever had one pair of Spandex trousers!" -Bruce Dickinson |
| Tracey from Spanktown Associate, 1891 posts |
May I please have some clam chaucer and a side order of bly? |
| Anstey from Lowell, MA Associate, 5571 posts |
" May I please have some clam chaucer and a side order of bly? " We're all out, you want some Keats Lime Pie or a Frost-ee crumbings cake?
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Pug Mayne from Olympia- Home of the 'Greeners 32 posts |
...erm, the poetry of "splendid buggers" is my plan for poetry month- which means, it's back to W.H. Auden's Collected Poems and cruising any Oscar Wilde I can find...there you have it, there it is. |
| ShannonV from mars 466 posts |
I keep checking this thread to see if there are more recommendations or just pointless banter. THANKS PUGGIFER for the recommendation. yayyyyayay. |
| ShannonV from mars 466 posts |
Not that i have anything against pointless banter. that woudl be entirely hypocritical. :D |
| Anstey from Lowell, MA Associate, 5571 posts |
" not that i have anything against pointless banter. that woudl be entirely hypocritical. :D " Zen and Art of Motorcycle Maintenance ... it's not poetry, but it's close. You'd like it. It drips with Shannonosity.
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Kath from after the dance 283 posts |
On the more general topic -- I'm still reading more Bukowski and would always recommend reading his work. Shannon Also-I really like your haiku Shannon I tend to think haiku are not so much about nature as set IN nature, which is where we happen to be as a species on this planet in the universe. That is what the seasonal element does- BUT there is a lot of experimentation these days in the haiku world
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| Tracey from Spanktown Associate, 1891 posts |
" [quote]May I please have some clam chaucer and a side order of bly? " We're all out, you want some Keats Lime Pie or a Frost-ee crumbings cake? ----- - stephan[/quote] On second thought, I desperately need to cut calories. I'll take a Millay of broiled flounder, along with some steamed Nerudabega. |
| Leanne from Just west of the lounge room Associate, 3019 posts |
I've been following the writing of a young British guy called Matthew Caley for a couple of years and I keep loving everything he writes -- it's irreverent and quite disgusting sometimes, which makes me very happy He has a couple of collections that I know of, Thirst and The Scene of my Former Triumph -- I think you should be able to get them at www.wreckingballpress.com -- I will personally guarantee his genius and offer complete satisfaction or your money lost. |
| Derma Kaput from Possum Grape, Arkansas Associate, 1497 posts |
I'm going to have to start jotting down some of these names, beginning with Matthew Caley. The book I've fallen in love with lately is "denise levertov - selected poems." The economy and elegance of her language, throughout the whole span of her life, completely blows me away. It's books like this one that help me to become a better writer. |
Deadpoetsmilk 139 posts |
Um... I think you should check out "Only Revolutions" by Mark Z. Danielewski, a lot of people don't like him, but I think he's a lot of fun. Um...I read a cute book called, "The Story of Poetry," by David Hopkins and Tom Mason. Then recently I bought an anthology of Robert Creeley poems, which I'll have to admit I think are great, in a Charlie Brown poetic way. Then Another book I recommend is Ezra Pound's "ABC's of Reading," That is, if you like dry technical books, I'm a sucker for them.
Ryan B. Wilbur |
| Anstey from Lowell, MA Associate, 5571 posts |
http://home.earthlink.net/~sophieone/ Sophie Wadsworth "Letters From Siberia" is absolutely fantastic. -----
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Joe R Associate, 186 posts |
I would suggest Leanne's book: Odd Verse Effects http://www.amazon.com/Odd-Verse-Effects-Leanne-Hanson/dp/0978724739/ref=sr_1_1/103-4561484-0803045?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183208999&sr=1-1 (or any other member's book and the "Revue", good to support each other or course!) I would also suggest The New Oxford Book or Irish Verse by Tom Kinsella, a very nice and varied collection http://www.amazon.com/Oxford-Book-Irish-Verse-Books/dp/0192801929/ref=sr_1_3/103-4561484-0803045?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183208744&sr=8-3 pardon the mess with the hyperlinks! |
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