Poetry in the Spotlight

Today is the last day of Poetry Month, which is celebrated every April. When most of us consider things to read, we probably don't think of rushing to the library or bookstore to get the most recently published anthology of poems. Perhaps some of us remember going through the agony of the poetry unit in high school English class and never want to return there.

Why is it that poetry doesn't have the same appeal as fiction, mystery, romance, sci-fi, romance, and other genres? Unlike prose, poems can't be rushed through like the latest Baldacci or Macomber novel. They're not quick reads. Whether a poem is comprised of several stanzas like Emily Dickinson's "'Hope' is the thing with feathers" or long and epic like Homer's "The Odyssey," we have to take our time.

Words in a poem are carefully thought out by the writer; they are precise and intentional. Many times even the punctuation (or lack of it) is intentional. There is often rhyme and meter, giving a poem an almost musical quality. Taking these things into account, a reader of poetry has to carefully digest what he or she is reading, to internalize and ponder what the writer is divulging. 

If you don't normally read poetry, why not give it a try? Sample some T.S. Eliot, Naomi Shihab Nye, Edgar Allan Poe, Maya Angelou, Shel Silverstein, Wisława Szymborska, Lord Byron, Elizabeth Barrett Browning...the list goes on. It's good to get out of your comfort zone occasionally. Besides learning something new, you may also learn something new about yourself.

Wishing you good travels through poetry from the perch.

My Pandemic Picks

Like many of you, I've been doing a LOT more reading than usual over the past year. With few exceptions, I had a need for more uplifting, feel-good selections. I wanted to read books that would help me relax and briefly take my mind off everything that's been happening in the world.

If you're interested to know what this particular librarian was reading, here is my top 5 list of books that I've read in the past year (alphabetical by author, because we librarians like to organize things):

• The Midnight Library by Matt Haig  This book made me think about how seemingly small choices can make big differences in our lives and how it's important to not give up on things and people that are important to us, including ourselves.
• The Art of Taking It Easy by Brian King  A standup comedian with a Ph.D. in psychology wrote an entertaining yet helpful book on how to reduce your stress, something I suspect quite a few of us can benefit from during these times. I liked how he used layman's terms and a practical approach for reframing situations.
• If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name by Heather Lende  Coming from New York, Alaska seems far and exotic to me. It was great to armchair travel to the small town of Haines, a 4.5-hour ferry ride from Juneau, and read about life there as seen through the eyes of a local obituary writer. 
• The Last Town On Earth by Thomas Mullen  William Nicholson said, "We read to know we are not alone." Well, I guess I had to read this book set in Washington State against the backdrop of the 1918 pandemic, because I wanted to know that others before us went through something similar to what we're going through now.
• The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien  I read the classic Middle Earth trilogy many years ago when I was in high school, but I re-read it for its entertaining, escapist qualities. For me, it was a comfort read, and it was amazing how many things I noticed the second time around.

How did your reading habits change (or not) during the pandemic? What were some of your favorite books that you read over the past year? Share with us!

As always, wishing you good health and reading from the perch.