Welcome to a guide to all-things-poetry. This guide will build into an extensive and comprehensive tool, in hopes of helping you to navigate the world of poetry, start or expand a collection, or buy books and other poetry-related items as gifts.  Its main goal will be to assist you in finding poetry that you, or the person you are buying for, will enjoy what you purchase.  It will include information on different eras, different schools, and different styles of poetry, as well as information on many poets from Shakespeare to new young poets of today, Top 10 Books lists for beginning poetry readers to long-time devotees, one 100 Top Poems list, Top 10 Books lists for kids, high school, and college students, books recommended for writers of poetry, among other general helpful information. I will also very soon feature a gift guide for the holidays. (And of course this whole guide can be used for that purpose any time, plus see my Holiday Gift Tips below towards the very bottom of this page.) 

** It will also include featured books and poets of the month. For November, the featured book is The Best American Poetry 2005, edited by David Lehman and Paul Muldoon, and there are two featured poets:     The charasmatic and controversial Pulitzer Prize winning master, Anne Sexton (1928-1974), whose birthday was 9 November, and Tony Hoagland, an exciting and passionate poet who is quickly becoming a major force in poetry today, and whose poem, "November Life," is among my Top 100 Favorite Great Poems.  If you scroll to the very bottom of this page, I have included a few excerpts from that amazing Hoagland poem.  I printed only excerpts, however, because while the rest of the poem is certainly not profane, has some vivid images that might be disturbing to children, young adolescents, and possibly some adults if very sensitive. (Nothing gory, disrespectful, or obscene, just some powerful emotional content conveyed masterfully by vivid imagery -- which of course is perhaps its greatest strength, so I strongly suggest looking it up online and reading the complete volume. And to read more of Hoagland's work, I suggest doing a Google search, or you can e-mail me.) Following "November Life" is a poem by Anne Sexton, "I Remember," (from Love Poems) which is perhaps uncharacteristically light and sweet, but is quite in keeping with her personal themes and artistic virtuosity. Very unfortunately both poems use forward slashes (/) to indicate line, and two (//) to indicate stanza, because these pages make it impossible to type poetry in proper form.

Click on the following links to see where you can buy the following on eBay:

 Best American Poetry 2005 

Anne Sexton

Tony Hoagland

** Holiday Gift Tip: Best American Poetry 2005 would be a great gift for any of the following:  high school, college, or more advanced poetry, literature, or English students/majors; readers and fans of contemporary poetry (all poems published in 2004); any one who loves to read literary work of any kind; poets; aspiring poets; English teachers; anyone who likes poetry but doesn't have time to read many books by specific poets; serious music fans; anyone interested in what kinds of poetry is being written today; anyone who wants a good introduction to contemporary poetry. This book has wide appeal, as do most of the other volumes in this series, except for 2002 and 2004, which both favor more experimental work. Especially recommended: Best American Poetry 1993, Best American Poetry 1997, and Best American Poetry 2000. And if you or anyone you know is particularly political or activist, Best American Poetry 1996 is a good bet for a gift, even if the person does not read much poetry.

** Holiday Gift Tip: If any of the following sound like friends or family on your holiday gift list, I've listed some poetry-related gift giving ideas:

• Children: Any thing by Shel Silverstein will capture and delight children, and please parents.
• A lot of people think only of "dead white men" who used old English that they cannot understand when they think of poetry, and, understandably, don't get excited by the idea of poetry:  Any thing by Charles Bukowski (an especially good bet for young men -- late high school through 30's; not a good bet for anyone who doesn't like to read about the grittier parts of life); Lucille Clifton is sure to please most women of all ages, especially those who have seen tough times and like inspiration but inspiration that's more profound and beautiful than what's found in Hallmark cards or so-called "inspirational poetry"; Langston Hughes is a great choice for anyone interested in reading one of the greatest African American poets ever, indeed one of the best of all poets, who wrote in beautiful yet direct and easy to understand language about both the hardships and the celebrations of African American life and history; "Howl" by Allen Ginsberg; any book by Billy Collins -- and he is almost guaranteed to delight most anyone -- he is the best selling poet alive today, writes in a straightforward, easy to understand, yet poignant and beautiful way; is very funny and yet also quite serious at the same time -- he just really hits the nail on the head every time; and he's also not at all likely to offend anyone, whereas Charles Bukowski, Langston Hughes, and Allen Ginsberg could possibly.
• A college or high-school student who is required to take an English or literature class (which are most college students) but are just not enthusiastic about it or is dreading the poetry (possibly for similar reasons as above): Any of the above, as well as any thing by Nick Flynn or Dorianne Laux, or any of the poets/musicians mentioned below.
• For rock-n-roll fans: Jeff Tweedy, the lead singer of Wilco, and Billy Corrigan, the lead singer of the Smashing Pumpkins, both have books of poetry out that are both popular and excellent literary poetry. The very popular singer-songwriter Jewel also wrote a book of poetry, which sold very well, was popular with her fans and many young women and girls, but was not critically acclaimed like Tweedy or Corrigan; still a good bet for something enjoyable.
• Anyone interested in politics, social issues, or activism: Adrienne Rich (feminism); Carolyn Forche (poetry of witness; war; the Third World); Allen Ginsberg and Langston Hughes (see above for links).
• Women of all ages, especially if interested in women's issues, have a good chance of strongly identifying with Sharon Olds, seeing their lives reflected in her poetry, and loving her language, which really comes alive. (Relationships, marriage, love, children, parenting, sexism, divorce, etc.)

And soon I will be selling many smaller, inexpensive, and original poetry gifts and stocking-stuffers that should have very wide appeal, far beyond just poetry readers and writers. 

** To see what I'm selling, just go to the top right corner of this page, and click on the link to see my items. And please feel free to send me any questions or other messages. I will always try to answer questions, provide information, and/or make suggestions, as well and as quickly as I can. 

Thank you for visiting this guide and check back soon as much more will be added.

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NOVEMBER LIFE (by Tony Hoagland)

November like a train wreck / as if a locomotive made of cold / had hurtled out of Canada / and crashed into a million trees, / flaming the leaves, setting the woods on fire.  //  The sky is a think, cold gauze / but there's a soup special at Wafflehouse / and the Jack Parsons show is up at the musuem, / full of luminous red barns. / .... // .... and I force myself towards pleasure / and I love this Novenmber life / where I run like a train / deeper and deeper / into the land of my enemies.

I REMEMBER (by Anne Sexton)