Since we’ve made to the last week of the (Inter)National Poetry Month, I thought I would give you a quick run down on all my favourites things about poetry. So enjoy.
Favourites
Favourite poet
Dorothy Parker – hands down.
Parker’s style is just so sarcastic yet devastating. She will offhandedly and often slyly comment on something all the while pointing out the emotional and unfair core of an issue. Alot of the time she will capture a moment about being a woman, the poem itself will be kind of funny but often she ends with a final kick to point out the true injustice.
Favourite Poem
Honestly, I’m not able to narrow it down, so head over and check out my Five Poems That Changed My Life posts, because they are all poems that I absolutely love.
Favourite Book of Poetry
Small dreams of Scorpions by Spike Milligan.
The book itself is very small but it packs quite an emotional punch. As it often the way, Milligan (who was a comedian and actor) battled with depression and this book offers some very hard hitting poems concerning his turmoil.
Coupled with some illustrations the book is full of often difficult emotions. Stand out poems in the book are Oberon, Values ’67, Manic Depression, and Love Song.
Favourite Styles
List Poems
I talked a bit about my love for list poetry in Day 4 of my feature Five Poems that Have Changed My Life. I find the repetition and open possibilities of list poems incredibly freeing. It is always fun reading list poems and seeing where the poet takes you.
Pantoum Poems
I have this weakness for pantoum poems. Pantoums are quite difficult to write (trust me I’ve tried multiple times and only twice successfully) because there is a very strict form to follow.
The poems basic structure is that each quatrain has four lines and they follow an abab rhyming structure. Pantoums can be any length, however they must always begin and end with the same line. The below image explains the structure that pantoums must follow. It may seem strange but after reading a pantoum, you do get a sense of the rhythm and effect of the poems.
If you’re interested in reading more about the pantoum structure check out this link. If you’re after some examples of pantoums check out this link. One that I really enjoy is, Another Lullaby for Insomniacs by A. E. Stallings.
Doggeral Poems
Doggeral poetry are defined by their badness. Typically the poems are filled with cliches, terrible rhyming choices, and irregular meters – they also are unintentionally hilarious. For the most famous doggeral poem check out William McGonagall’s The Tay Bridge Disaster.
Favourite Quotes
By Poet
‘I hate writing, I love having written.’ – Dorothy Parker.
About Poetry
‘Vogon poetry is of course, the third worst in the universe.’ – Douglas Adams.
Recommendations
Seasoned Poetry Pros
For people who know the different between a sestina and a sonnet, I would recommend giving the below books and poets a try:
- Anything by Danez Smith (I love his Dinosaurs in the Hood poem).
- No Matter the Wreckage by Sarah Kay.
- Inferno by Eileen Myles.
Beginner Poem-ateurs
- Love Her Wild by Atticus.
- Adultolescence by Gabbie Hanna.
- Ballistics by Billy Collins.
- Anything by e e cummings.
Other poems that deserve an honourable mention
- My Dream by Ogden Nash.
- Your Laughter by Pablo Neruda.
- The Flea by John Donne.
Previous Poetry Posts
And for those of you have missed them previously here are the links to my previous posts about poets and poetry:
