Poetry Books

One of my favorite pastimes is to read poetry. Despite the very boring poetry we used to be force fed with at school, I was not put off. I went and found the poetry I liked by myself. I was a frequent visitor to my local library and I discovered poetry books that way. I also used to go to poetry readings at the University and in pubs and clubs.

People who say they don't like poetry probably haven't found anything they like, but there's usually something for everyone. Strangely too, some people and especially men find it embarrassing to say they like poetry as if it's not allowed. Poetry does not have to be sentimental. There are plenty poetry books that don't contain love poems.

The popularity of poetry comes and goes and we're always being told that we're in a poetry resurgence. It's a lucky few who can earn a living just from poetry books and recitals. Most poets have to supplement their income by teaching or other forms of writing such as critical review journalism. Philip Larkin's day job was as a University librarian. Not many poets achieve superstar status during their lifetime. Lord Byron was an exception and an overnight success with his Childe Harold. In modern times, the television, radio and internet all help to promote interest in poetry. Poets can advertise their poetry books on programmes and sell them online.

Performance poetry is very common today. Poets set their poems to a musical background. This is especially popular amongst the Caribbean dub poets like Linton Kwesi Johnson and it all helps to sell more copies of poetry books. Even John Betjeman released an album of his poems with a music track, called Betjeman's Banana Blush. When you read the performed poems in the poetry books afterwards, it makes them come to life.

I have many compilations of poetry. I prefer these to poetry books containing the works of one poet so I can pick what I'm in the mood for. My favorite poetry book is one that is divided into different themes. These are love, nature, faith, death, places, humor and contemplation. The poems are from different centuries from John Milton thru John Keats to Ted Hughes and Dylan Thomas.

If you think you don't like poetry and school put you off it for life, give it another chance. You may prefer contemporary poetry and there are lots of poetry books containing poems with modern, urban themes and popular language.

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