National Poetry Month 2018!

"April is the cruelest month" ... because we make you read poetry for National Poetry Month? Well, maybe not. Thanks to Rupi Kaur poetry has had a recent resurgence. While not the biggest Kaur fan, I truly appreciate the attention she's brought and hope that her Tumblresque poetry, derivative as it may be, can be a stepping stone for her readers and fans to other poets and poetry. Along with that hope, here's a thought about how to get into the foreign land that is poetry. Most poetry books are actually quite short, slim little volumes that are perfect for leveling a table. If the poet gains some small measure of success, there will often later be collections of these slender books into an omnibus "Selected Poems" or "Collected Poems" by the poet. Although you may be tempted to get more bang for your buck by buying the larger collection, think twice. I find the larger collections difficult to read: there's just too much. It may be easier to read the smaller volumes, certainly less intimidating, and often the single editions have a theme or consistency that reveal an intent for the poems to function together, a suite or progression of poems. With the small books, the end is always in sight, even if they are overpriced (thrift stores and used-book shops are one answer). I can't lie, I have purchased the larger volumes from time to time, and found it best for me just to keep one on my bedside table to dip into at random, here and there, reading two or three before turning to another book or sleep. My fear is I'll never finish the collection. You may find your reading is different, more disciplined and regular, than mine. Happy NPM!  🐢