Exceptional Books discussion

I haven't read much poetry at all, but would like to explore it. Much poetry I have read leaves me wondering what the author meant.

Could anyone recommend an anthology, list, review, etc. of poetry for people who don't get poetry?

I hope someone replies to you Chip because I need that list too! My suggestion would be to look at some Australian early poets like the famous Banjo Patterson. I can understand him.

Sometimes I find that the best poetry is in the lyrics to favorite songs, old and new.
For those more interested in written word I'd recommend Emily Dickinson who has hundreds of short title-less poems or Tyler Knott Gregson and his book of poetry Chasers of the Light for more contemporary pieces.
Otherwise there are lots of classic poets like Poe, Hughes, Keats, Cummings, Millay, Wordsworth, or Whitman who, of course, do require a little research for meaning behind words but I often feel that that is the fun of reading poetry.
One of my personal favorite poems is Spring by Edna St Vincent Millay because I still don't quite understand everything within it. Whereas another is I Will Wade Out by EE Cummings because I can recite it and it sounds beautiful.
In short, anything and everything is poetry! You can start anywhere and decide what you like because as soon as you read it, it becomes yours. Don't worry about meaning and interpretation or right and wrong, it means what it means to you. Have fun!

I do not think any suggestions concerning poetry could ever be of much good, because it is very personal. Still...

I`d recommend Piet Hein and Edward Lear, and of course The Hunting of the Snark by Lewis Carroll. But if what you want is lyrical verse, you are not likely to like any of the above.

BTW, many of a text of songs sung by ancient groups, like, say, Uriah Heep or Pink Floyd, can be rightfully named Poetry Proper.

Dodo wrote: "I`d recommend Piet Hein..."

I suppose I`d better give an example of what I mean. Here`s a favourite Hein of mine:

To make a name for learning
When other roads are barred,
Take something very easy
And make it very hard.

:D

Thanks very much for the feedback!
I want to check out all these suggestions.
For now, I just picked up 3 titles to peruse:

Good Poems: Garrison Keillor
A Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver
How to Read a Poem: And Fall in Love with Poetry
Hirsch, Edward

I like that quote, Dodo. Humans like to make simple things difficult sometimes. Like meditation.


Dodo wrote: "Dodo wrote: "I`d recommend Piet Hein..."

I suppose I`d better give an example of what I mean. Here`s a favourite Hein of mine:

To make a name for learning
When other roads are barred,
Take someth..."

Chip wrote: "I like that quote, Dodo."

I`m glad you like it. Piet Hein seems to be undeservedly ignored, alas... Here`s one more:

When people always
try to take
the very smallest
piece of cake,
how can it also
always be
that that`s the one
that`s left for me?

And of course the comprehensive Budgeting, The First Law:

If you want to know
Where your money went,
You must spend it quickly
Before it`s spent.

:D