I will confess that I have a mild aversion to poetry. I am wary that any poetry event could turn into a Vogon Poetry reading*. I was reminded that April is National Poetry Month, so I went looking for Cannonballer’s reviews about poetry. When I read Siege’s review of A Book of Luminous Things by Czesław Miłosz, I was intrigued by what poem could have motivated her to read a whole anthology of poetry. Maybe she will tell us, or maybe she doesn’t want to expose more people to Czesław Miłosz (read her review for context).
Dylan Thomas’ “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” is the only poem I can still recite from memory. During 10th grade English class we had to read a poem aloud. In a panic I chose Thomas’ poem and as I read it, my teacher burst into tears. It was not my performance, though that was bad, her father-in-law was in the last weeks of his life after a long illness. I can assure you that having my teacher start sobbing as my 15 year old self read a poem she barely understood created a lifelong memory. Please enjoy Tom Hiddleston giving a far superior performance.
Do you have a favorite or most meaningful poem? Do you have a favorite story involving poetry? Have you been longing for a chance to explain why poetry is the worst? Would you like to share which poets need a good kicking? Do you have poetry of your own to share?
Now is the time. Seize the day!
*According to one of next month’s Cannon Book Club selections, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,
Vogon poetry is of course, the third worst in the universe.”