Poetry Recommendations for People Who Are Scared of Poetry

Photo by Trust “Tru” Katsande on Unsplash

April is National Poetry Month, and I’m always glad to see poetry getting special recognition since I consider it to be an under-appreciated art form. It seems as if poetry intimidates a lot of readers. I’ve heard people say they can’t understand it or don’t want to spend their reading time having to analyze something. While there is certainly a lot of complex poetry out there, there are also many options for people who want accessible, beginner-friendly poetry. I want to share some of those options with you today.

Second Sky by Tania Runyan

Second Sky is one of my favorite poetry books. Tania Runyan writes about faith and spirituality in a way that is entirely relatable. She does what all great poets do and illuminates the extraordinary and profound in the everyday. You can read two of her poems here.

Mezzanines by Matthew Olzmann

I first heard of Matthew Olzmann when I came across his poem “Mountain Dew Commercial Disguised as a Love Poem.” It was love at first read. I bought Olzmann’s debut book just because I love that poem so much and I wasn’t disappointed. Olzmann can gut-punch you in just a line or two. He can be playful and profound. You can read more of his work here.

The Poetry of Rilke translated by Edward Snow

I own quite a few poetry books, and this collection is one of my most beloved volumes. I first encountered Rainer Maria Rilke when I read Letters to a Young Poet, which I love. When I saw this edition of Rilke’s work, I knew I had to have it. I was captivated instantly, and I think you will be too. Rilke has such a gift with words. Like Tania Runyan, he talks a lot about faith, and like Matthew Olzmann, he can deliver profound insight in just a few words. This specific edition of Rilke’s poetry is noteworthy because Edward Snow did a fantastic job translating Rilke’s work from German to English. You can read many of Rilke’s poems here.

Life on Mars by Tracy K. Smith

Sometimes after I read a book that earned a Pulitzer or other esteemed book award, I think, “Really?” Thankfully, that wasn’t the case when I read this beautiful collection from Tracy K. Smith. She deserves her Pulitzer for creating such unique and memorable work. I love this description of Life on Mars from Goodreads: “With allusions to David Bowie and interplanetary travel, Life on Mars imagines a soundtrack for the universe to accompany the discoveries, failures, and oddities of human existence.” To see what they’re talking about, read her poem “Don’t You Wonder, Sometimes?” here.

Devotions by Mary Oliver

If you’ve read any poetry at all, chances are it’s by Mary Oliver. She’s one of the most beloved contemporary poets for a good reason. Her work focuses on nature, love, God, and the beauty of the world around us. Her recent death was heartbreaking to many of us who have appreciated her words and found solace in them. If you want to get started with Oliver, pick up Devotions. She chose the poems in this book herself, and they span her entire career. If you want even more Oliver goodness in your life, check out this Book Riot post that helps you know where to start.

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More poets I love:

• John Donne
• Langston Hughes
• Kim Addonizio
• Andrea Gibson
• Christian Wiman
• Maya Angelou
• Mary Karr
• Carrie Fountain
• Ellen Bass
• Jack Gilbert
• William Carlos Williams
• Pablo Neruda
• Sharon Olds
• T. S. Eliot
• Billy Collins
• Joseph Millar
• Robert Hass

Poetry resources:

I can’t recommend Poetry Foundation enough. Poets.org is another favorite. If you want daily poetry, this site gives you just that. Beloved contemporary poet Billy Collins is the brainchild behind Poetry 180, a collection of work that introduces high school students to great poems.

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I hope this post is helpful for those of you wanting to dip your toe into the world of poetry. There’s so much goodness out there to find. Happy reading!