Poetry in the spotlight in April
Dewey Decimal call number 811.54: poetry. The very mention of it can strike fear into countless hearts, with many making the claim that they just don’t understand poetry. I’ll admit it myself; my undergraduate degree is in English literature and I did everything in my power to avoid having to read or analyze poetry.
Over time, however, I have started to realize that the occasional line of verse isn’t so bad. After all, it is all around us. For those who don’t like poetry, start looking for it in the things that you enjoy. The songs that you listen to on the radio are a form of poetry. Tolkien’s fantasy epic, “The Lord of the Rings,” is full of it. The first poem that really spoke to me was a reading of Dylan Thomas’s “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” by Michael Caine. You’ll find this particular reading in the blockbuster movie, Interstellar.
With April being Poetry Month, now is the time to make the leap and try reading a little verse. The Lethbridge Public Library has a wide variety of books to help you begin your journey. A few titles to guide the novice poetry reader include: “How to Read a Poem… and Start a Poetry Circle” by Molly Peacock; “How to Read a Poem and Fall in Love with Poetry” by Edward Hirsch; “A Grain of Poetry: How to Read Contemporary Poems and Make Them a Part of Your Life” by Herbert R. Kohl. All of these titles can help you learn to enjoy and appreciate poetry.
There are, of course, those among us who already love poetry. For those wanting to pick up a recent collection, you may want to explore Rupi Kuar’s “The Sun and Her Flowers.” Kuar’s second collection of poetry is described as a vibrant and transcendent journey about growth and healing, ancestry, and honouring one’s roots. Go even further and try your hand at writing poetry; “A Poetry Handbook: A Prose Guide to Understanding and Writing Poetry” by Mary Oliver is the perfect resource.
When celebrating Poetry Month this year, make the library your number-one stop, whether you’re discovering poetry for the first time, or writing your own verse!