The blossoming beauty of nature and the ever changing weather of April seem like the perfect partners to poetry. Celebrate National Poetry Month by reading some poems from one or more of these selections.
A Plethora of Poems for National Poetry Month
Compiled by:
Dory L.
Individual Works
Adult Nonfiction - 811.6 Cal
From football to a Baptist Church in Jerusalem, these poems celebrate the unusual and unpredictable in life. Deeply emotional and well—written. these poems strike to the bone.
Adult Nonfiction - 811.6 Gay
In praise of redbuds, orchids, beekeepers, and opera singers, these lyrical poems celebrate nature, love, and life. Professor Gay teaches writing at Indiana University--Bloomington.
Adult Nonfiction - 811.6 Ber
Known for his environmental activism and love for the land, Wendell Berry gathers poems about love, his Kentucky farm, and a section of Sabbath poems, where Berry retells his Sunday morning wanderings and shares his observations on humanity and nature.
Adult Nonfiction - 811.6 Lon
Local Indiana author, Long, brings her multicultural past to life in this lyrical collection. In moving language, she celebrates the intersection of science and literature. She also artfully plays with various forms in her poetry.
Adult Nonfiction - 811.6 Jac
In her debut collection, Jacobs celebrates the landscape of the artist, Georgia O’Keeffe. Wandering the trails around Abiquiu and Ghost Range, she brings the beautiful New Mexican landscape to life. She also jumpstarts poems inspired by O’Keeffe’s own letters.
Anthologies and Collected Works
Adult Nonfiction - 811.608 Cov
In the last twenty years, Hip-Hop has become a real cultural force. This collection presents some of the best poetry produced in the form and translates this dynamic spoken-word music onto the page.
Adult Nonfiction - 811.54 Gil
His years living in Greece gave Gilbert a different perspective on life. This collection contains all Gilbert’s essential work about travel, love, nature, and his boyhood in gritty, industrial Pittsburg.
Adult Nonfiction - 811.54 Kin
Found here in one volume is the life’s work of this gifted lyrical poet who wrote about Hiroshima, the pulse of life in New York City, nature, the self and the family. Culled from six decades of his writing, this makes an essential collection.
Adult Nonfiction - 808.81 Po
Poems from many countries and cultures that exhibit the joy in reading poetry aloud. Selected by readers of all ages who selected their favorite poem. Many have a brief commentary. Edited by Robert Pinsky and Maggie Dietz.
Adult Nonfiction - 811.54 Sha
Presented in both English and Spanish, this collection shows the span of the famous poet and playwright’s work. From the beginning, Shange tackled difficult subjects: prejudice, the targeting minorities, suicide, parenthood, and domestic violence—all in her famous idiosyncratic style.
Adult Nonfiction - 808.81 Wo
Prayers, poems, and songs from the earliest times to now about the spiritual in life written by princesses, freed slaves, healers, revolutionaries, ministers, rebels and more.