Finding Your Poetry
Since 1996, April has been celebrated as National Poetry Month. If you’re already a reader of poetry, it’s as good a time as any to crack open old favorites or new reads from your TBR pile, and if you’re not a poetry fan, now is a great time to begin exploring! Some might think poetry stuffy, but this form of writing can convey emotions and tell stories like nothing else, and we think if you go looking for it, you’re bound to find something you’ll love!
You can always hit up the local bookstore’s poetry section, and the internet has no shortage of great recommendations (poets.org has a wonderful Poem-A-Day series that anyone with an email can sign up for!) but Williamson Forward is here to get you started on your poetry journey. Maryann Lendearo, the owner of Maple Grove Books kindly shared with us her favorite recommendations, and we’re here to pass those on to you.
Maryann’s first recommendation is The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur, though she adds that “any Rupi Kaur poetry is truly amazing.” She goes on to suggest Sincerely by F.S. Yousaf, saying: “If you love love, you will love this!”
She also suggests The Witch Doesn’t Burn In This One by Amanda Lovelace, which is “very women empowerment and deep,” though she does recommend looking into trigger warnings for the many heavy topics handled in the book. Her husband also recommends The Divine Comedy, which depicts “the possible journey of the soul.”
Kids Love Poetry, Too!
Poetry is not just for grown-ups, and the great thing about National Poetry Month is how it encourages folks of all ages, but especially those in school, to explore poetry. “For kids, I always recommend Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein,” She says. “When I was a kid, all of my reading festival poems came from this collection and I loved them all!”
Be sure to check out Maple Grove Books to see if they have any copies of these modern (nor not-so-modern) classics on the shelf! If not, ask about special orders. Remember: There’s a poem for everyone! Go find yours!