You might say, "Poetry? Eeewww." And we would understand as we've all suffered
some sad poetry readings, boring analyses, or bad rhymes. But don't give up yet! Here
are a few selections, by no means an exhaustive collection, of our favorite authors and
rhymes. One of the beautiful things about poetry is that you don't have to read from
cover to cover; generally speaking, you can pick and choose among an author's
offerings. Another thing we like about poetry is that in a few short sentences, an
author has combined the same words we use everyday to convey an entire story in an
artful way. Magic. We think you'll be able to find one, just one, poem in this collection
that speaks to you or encourages you to read other authors in our collection.
"Garrett’s poems can be intensely personal, extremely witty, evocative of real places, or beautiful love ballads. Yet, for all of its diversity, Garrett’s poetry has an extraordinary unity of vision that is magnified in this remarkable collection of his life’s work."
The above quotation is from the publisher's description. The author is Henry Hoyns Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Virginia.
"Come full circle with 180 new, exciting poems selected and introduced by Billy Collins. Inspired by Billy Collins's poem-a-day program for American high schools that he began through the Library of Congress, the original Poetry 180: A Turning Back to Poetry was a gathering of clear, contemporary poems aimed at a wide audience. In 180 More, Collins continues his ambitious mission of exposing readers of all ages to the best of today's poetry. Like its predecessor, 180 More is the perfect anthology for anyone who appreciates thoughtful, clear poems that are an immediate pleasure to read and a lasting source of insight and feeling. And for readers who have lost touch with poetry, this collection will lead them back to the fold."
