3 votes

Multiauthor poetry anthology recommendations

I've recently finished Mary Oliver's A Poetry Handbook and have begun writing my own poems (just for fun). I feel though that I may be limited by my having read little poetry. So, I'm searching for anthology recommendations to get some inspiration.

I'm not really looking for collections of "classics," just a large collection of poems generally considered to be "very good," and maybe leaning more towards contemporary (late 19th century onwards?). But I'd welcome recommendations outside of these guidelines too if anyone feels particularly strongly about some collection.

3 comments

  1. boxer_dogs_dance
    Link
    The Rattlebag is a collection of poems chosen by great poets. I also found excellent poems from Dan Brown's book subjects in poetry.

    The Rattlebag is a collection of poems chosen by great poets.

    I also found excellent poems from Dan Brown's book subjects in poetry.

    2 votes
  2. Thales
    Link
    You can't beat the Norton Anthology of Modern Poetry as far as 20th century anthologies go. The third edition is the most recent, but it's also the most expensive. The first and second editions...

    You can't beat the Norton Anthology of Modern Poetry as far as 20th century anthologies go.

    The third edition is the most recent, but it's also the most expensive. The first and second editions are more affordable and available from used booksellers. All editions are massive.

    There is also the Oxford Book of Twentieth Century Verse, which is similarly huge. It is available from used booksellers and also on internet archive.


    Ordinarily I would recommend supporting the artists by purchasing a new copy of an anthology but, given that most of these poems have been out for decades (some over a century!) and new copies of these anthologies are exorbitantly priced, I think going with a used book or Archive.org won't offend too many of the poets ;)

    2 votes
  3. rsl12
    Link
    Do you like Garrison Keillor (Lake Wobegon)? "Good poems" is a collection he curated, and the poems are unmistakably of his taste. Easy to understand, folksy, and often meaningful and beautiful.

    Do you like Garrison Keillor (Lake Wobegon)? "Good poems" is a collection he curated, and the poems are unmistakably of his taste. Easy to understand, folksy, and often meaningful and beautiful.

    1 vote