There’s no more precious gift than beautiful art.
I had a tricky relationship with poetry for a long time. It was something I found fascinatingly powerful as a reader yet entirely unapproachable as a writer. To try and rectify this, I made a conscious decision in the New Year to produce a lot more of my own poems and for better or worse, I’m glad I did. Naturally, when looking to write more poetry, I also spent more time reading it and decided it would be nice to share a few of my favourite poems with anyone else who may be interested in the beauty the written word has to offer.
Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep – Mary Elizabeth Frye: This is, in my eyes, one of the most poignant pieces ever written and it has been a huge influence on my own work. Hauntingly simplistic in its use of language, yet utterly moving in its sheer beauty; I adore it. Allegedly Frye had never written any poetry before and scrawled this verse on a paper shopping bag. Even as it grew in popularity, she only ever circulated it privately, never seeking formal recognition through publishing or copyrighting the piece. This origin story only makes me love and appreciate it even more.
Revelation – Liz Lochhead: I think Lochhead is one of Scotland’s finest poets. I remember first reading Revelation (largely about a loss of childhood innocence) years ago and its vivid use of imagery that engage the senses has stayed with me ever since. It’s very accessible yet no less commanding.
Still Falls the Rain – Edith Sitwell: This incredibly powerful poem is somewhat ‘heavier’ than I normally read and enjoy but something about it just totally engaged my mind. Sitwell’s war imagery is incredible and though it took me a few readings to fully appreciate its many layers, the piece is now one of my firm favourites.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings – Maya Angelou: Easy to read yet hard-hitting in its message, this poem can resonate in so many ways. The inspiration is touching and the imagery hugely effective.
I could go on, as there are many poems that I love. In the spirit of not rambling on too much however and at risk of inevitably forgetting some, I will leave it at that for now. If you read any of them, I hope you enjoy them as much as I did and please do share any poems you like in the comments. I would love to check them out.
Callum McLaughlin 
Some great suggestions, will definitely check them out. My mum loves poetry and used to read it to me and my sister when we were young, it certainly gave me a love for reading it, even if I can’t write it! 🙂
That’s great that you were read poetry as a child! 🙂 I’m sure you’re better at it than you give yourself credit for 😉
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Beautiful poems. My favorites are definitely “Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allan Poe and “Lodged” by Robert Frost. They’re both quite sad, but so very beautiful. 🙂
I’ve read “Annabel Lee” before and love it, it’s beautiful. I hadn’t read “Lodged” before but wow, I just checked it out. So short yet so powerful. Thanks for the great recommendations. 🙂
I enjoyed reading this post, and learning more about what and who inspires you. I love poetry. There have been times when I found it challenging, but those times don’t take away from the beauty of it. During my A levels, like many people, I studied Thomas Hardy and I struggled with the darker poems. The same can be said for Poe, though a few of his pieces are so intricate, peeling back the layers was an absolute pleasure. The only poem I’ve read by Robert Burns moved me to tears, and Lord Byron can cut right to the heart of the matter.
I enjoy poetry in all its forms, wherever it comes from, and I love poems that take me on a journey and use powerful imagery to help me get there. This is one of your skills, and as you know, I’m a fan of your work. Great poems are the ones that stay with you, comfort and inspire you, and speak to you in a way nothing else can. At least that’s the way I see it. Thanks for sharing the ones that speak to you.
Wonderful choices. Hardy is one of my absolute favourite writers in terms of prose and I’ve been wanting to explore more of his poetry. As for Burns, his work holds a special place with me, especially given that I myself am from Scotland.
“Great poems are the ones that stay with you, comfort and inspire you” – Beautiful words and a description of an outlook on poetry that I could never better. Thank you for the response.
I once had the pleasure of taking part in a ‘Burns’ night. A colleague of mine at the time, who loves tradition and is a proud Scotsman, organised the event and included me in the festivities. It remains a treasured memory.