August 28th is National Poetry Day here in Aotearoa. What better excuse to try something new and read a poem (or two?).
I am a huge fan of poetry, although I don't dedicate enough reading time or shelf space to it. I love that we have a National Poetry Day here in Aotearoa, a moment to celebrate our poets and our poems. I thought to celebrate I would share some of my favourites that are also excellent options for beginners, and provide you with a few lists to explore as well!
A few personal favourites
I often refer to Mary Oliver's Devotions as my bible, and I mean it whole heartedly. I feel like if I was left with one book only for the rest of my life it would be this one. This collection brings together the best of her incredibly long and successful poetry career into a stunning book that is perfect for reading cover to back, or for flipping through to find support in the form of her words.
Mary Oliver is a great poet to start with if you haven't read a lot of poetry, her writing is often about the natural world and finding solace through remembering our place on the planet as one part of the many. Her poetry is also quite accessible, somehow both incredibly profound and very down to Earth, and not something that will hurt the brain as you try to untangle her words. She's a cherished poet for a reason.
Another favourite of mine that is also very accessible and has had a resurgence in popularity is The Orange and other poems by Mary Cope. This book is a beautiful little hardback, concise and full of small joys (my favourite!). The writing is both charming and relatable, and not hard to enjoy. This would also make the cutest gift for a friend/loved one on Poetry Day (or any day) because 'The Orange' itself is about the small joy of life and connection and friendship.
I also adore and highly recommend beginning your poetry journey by reading Poetry Unbound by Padraig O Tuama, a collection of 50 poems from around the world along with Padraig's own reflections. This is great if you're quite new to poetry because you can read the poem, read the interpretation, and then read it again with that extra context. It's an awesome way to get more from the poem, and learn more about certain choices and their impacts.
How else can I celebrate National Poetry Day?
I have found it really enriching to learn poems by heart (even though I tend to forget them depressingly quickly). There's something about slowly repeating the words until they feel like they came from you, and there's nothing cooler than having a poem that you can recite from heart (RIGHT?!).
Check out the events happening in your local area! Don't forget libraries are often great places for community events like this, or maybe do your own and invite a few friends over to each share one poem with the group over wine and nibbles. Who doesn't love a cute and bookish reason to connect with others.
You could also try writing your own poems! Sit down, set aside half an hour and a blank page, and see what comes out. This is best done after spending a bit of time reading some poetry to help get your brain in the right zone. Even if what comes out is rubbish (9/10 times the case), it's a little exercise for your brain and a chance to reflect and check in with yourself via an age old craft of writing and putting words to our complex inner world. Want some help? There are some great books about writing poetry below:
Don't forget the kids!
Why not change it up and read the tamariki some bedtime poetry along with their story? I used to love reading poetry with my class - often it's silly, full of wild and wonderful language, and short enough that they can pay attention without getting distracted (sometimes). I love the beautiful hardback book Words Can Fly by Donna Ashworth, which brings together poetry that uplifts children and their experiences. Wisdom of the Woods is another stunning book and a treasury of poetry about magic and nature and childhood. For a sillier collection look no further than Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes, the kids LOVE it.
I think there's a misconception that poetry is only for certain people, is hard to read or get in to, and isn't something worth picking up - but I really invite everyone to take a chance on poetry for this one day of the year. Who knows, you may discover your own new personal bible in poetry form?
“Poetry is what in a poem makes you laugh, cry, prickle, be silent, makes your toenails twinkle, makes you want to do this or that or nothing, makes you know that you are alone in the unknown world, that your bliss and suffering is forever shared and forever all your own.” - Dylan Thomas
Let us know what you're up to for National Poetry Day and whether you have a favourite poem/poet to share!
Lizzy makes sure the Book Hero bookstore is an integral part of our local Hobsonville community, welcoming readers of all ages with a genuine kindness and love of books. The Fantastic Mr Fox ignited her passion for books as a child, and now she’s read thousands of books and loves matching the right book to the right reader - both in our bookstore and online. When she’s not recommending her next favourite read, she’s enjoying life’s small joys and adding to a home library so large her husband Edd is constructing a massive bookshelf to try and keep up.