Poetry Speaks Who I Am: 100 Poems of Discovery, Inspiration, Independence, and Everything Else for Teens

by Elise Paschen, Dominique Raccah (Editor)

From the creators of the New York Times bestseller Poetry Speaks to Children , comes this inspirational anthology book of poems for middle grade readers. Poetry Speaks Who I Am is filled with more than 100 remarkable poems for teen boys and girls, making it the perfect addition to any classroom. With poems about who teens are and who they are becoming, they'll find poems that make them laugh, that make them angry, or poems that speak directly to them. Poetry can be life altering. It can be gritty and difficult. It can be hilarious or heart-breaking. And it's meant to be experienced, so we've included a CD on which you'll hear 44 poems, 39 of which are original recordings—you'll only find them here. You'll hear poets both classic and contemporary, well-known and refreshingly new, Poetry Speaks Who I Am is dynamic, accessible, challenging, classic, edgy, and ultimately...not quite perfect. Just like you.

Genres: Poetry, Young Adult, Read For School, Middle Grade, Teaching, Childrens

176 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2010

Reviews

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In spite of having a poet for a mother (or perhaps because of it) I have never come to terms with poetry. Which is not to say that I didn’t try. As a kid I would pluck up a collection of the stuff and try to read through it. I was handed poems in elementary, middle, and high school with regularity, but I didn’t quite understand why snowy woods were any more important in stanzas than in paragraphs. Poetry seemed like something I should like, but I never found the right way to get a taste for it. Kids today may have it easier. There are verse novels and books like Love That Dog and Locomotion to help them get a better grip on poetry. There are collections like A Kick in the Head or A Poke in the I to teach them various forms. But why should they care? What does poetry really say firsthand to them? Poetry Speaks Who I Am aims to make them care. It's a collection of 108 poems by poets alive, dead, and otherwise has been carefully selected and crafted collection to mirror the hopes and fears of kids and teens today. It says that it is for tween and young teens, and yea verily I agree. If I had read this book as a young 'un, maybe I would have a great love of poetry now. Of course after reading this I have to think that maybe it’s never too late to learn.

108 poems. A range of different poets. In this book big themes are tackled headlong aside smaller concerns. “I Am Black” by Gwendolyn Books on one page. “The Germ” by Ogden Nash on another. These poems discuss love, parents, death, animals, and more. They try to make sense of our world. You will find Shakespeare on one page and Billy Collins on the other. Poets of every race and ethnicity have their say until by the end you’ve the feeling that every person reading this book could find at least one poem in here that speaks to them. One poem in here that will help them figure out who they are, and what they can be. Includes a CD of many poets reading their own works.

The editing job on this book is pretty fabulous. Selecting the right poems in the first place couldn’t have been a picnic. Let’s say you want to include one work of Shakespeare. How do you decide which poem is the most accessible? I happen to agree with the editors that Sonnet 130 was the right way to go, but I’m sure there are folks out there who’d disagree. Still, each poem in this book feels especially chosen. This is borne out by the particular thematic pairings you run across as you read. Wendy Cope’s “Valentine” alongside Myra Cohn Livingston’s “An Angry Valentine” is particularly fun since the two play off of one another. There’s the strange math at work in both Rita Dove’s “Flash Cards” and Carl Sandburg’s “Arithmetic”. And the angry siblings of “A Boy in a Bed in the Dark” by Brad Sachs and “The Talk” by Sharon Olds. Wonderful pairings all.

Then I had to consider the age of this book when I read it. It says it’s for tweens as well as kids in their early teens. True? Well, there are poems like “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou that ask, “Does my sexiness upset you? / Does it come as a surprise / That I dance like I’ve got diamonds / At the meeting of my thighs?” And sure “The Skokie Theatre” by Edward Hirsch mentions briefly a girl touching a boy below his belt, but they are fleeting allusions. Older kids won’t be shocked. Their parents might, but those parents probably won’t be handing this book to their ten-year-olds anyway. So there’s that. And many of the poems in this book are about kids themselves. Do poems about kids necessarily mean that they are for kids? Not always (not originally either) but a lot of the time it works just the same.

Part of the allure of any book of poetry is that you can pick and choose where to begin and where to end. Kids may read and reread their favorites and eschew the others in the book, only to stumble across them later and find, to their surprise, that they love them. Reading the book cover to cover has its advantages, though. The editors begin with poems about poetry. “Eternity” by Jason Shinder and “Perhaps the World Ends Here” by Joy Harjo have that feel. Halfway through the book you run into “From For a Girl Becoming” by Joy Harjo (again), which offers advice on how to live. And at the end is Richard Wilbur’s “The Writer”, about a kid writing on a typewriter. Typewriters are gone now, but you can tell that the book hopes that kids will find inspiration here to write their own poems next.

How kids make this collection their own stands to be considered. Certainly the book bends over backwards to be accessible. There are blank pages in the back for writing one’s own poems. The size of the book is comfortable, not too big, and not too small. The layout looks part notebook, part zine, with scribbled and scrawled drawings in the margins. And then there is the CD. The accompanying CD of poets reading their poems piqued my curiosity. It is possible that it will primarily be used by teachers wishing to make a daily lesson in poetry a little more interesting. But will kids listen to this CD at all? Do kids even listen to CDs these days, I wonder. Many do. And there may be some that take the CD and place selections from it onto mix CDs or put it on their mp3 players for easy listening. We can’t predict how a kid will deal with something like this, but I’m fairly certain that it will find a use. Not everywhere. Not with everyone. But for a couple kids, they’ll make it their own.

It is true that you will find many races represented on these pages. It irked me a little that the same could not be said of sexualities. Admittedly, this is a book for tweens and teens and coming-of-age sexuality is the stuff of older fare. Still and all, it felt like a gap. I don’t know what the solution would have been, but there are enough love poems in here discussing folks of opposite genders to include just one by folks of the same, don’t you think? I had high hopes for Edward Hirsch’s “The Skokie Theatre” until the Chris in the story turned out to be a girl. Doggone it. So maybe not all kids will find themselves represented here after all.

I run a bookgroup for kids between the ages of 9 and 14. They’re good kids, but such a strange range of ages that sometimes it’s hard to find materials for all of them. They tend to want to read fantasy or realistic fiction titles. I look at Poetry Speaks Who I Am, though, and I think of how great it would be to do this book with them. Even kids who don’t like poetry could find one or two in here to enjoy (my favorite turned out to be Paul Muldoon’s “Sideman”). It’s been created for the purpose of getting kids to actually enjoy and identify with poems. It doesn’t pressure them to “get” anything. It doesn’t quiz them or force them to like or not like something. It’s just a fun book built to be enjoyed. All we can hope for is for it to get into the right hands. And that’s where the adults come in.

Ages 10 and up.

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book while thrift store shopping and thought it looked interesting. It does come with a CD of the poets reading their own works, which I did not listen to. There were some poems I loved, yet many I did not care for - just weren't my style.

[Bryan Neuschwander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetry speaks, but not every poem speaks to me. Still, it's refreshing to find a poem that grips my heart like Stephen Crane's desert creature on page 89.

Here are my Top Ten (okay, 13) favorites from this anthology.

1. The Writer - Richard Wilbur, p. 135-6
2. When You Are Old - W.B. Yeats, p. 129
3. What Are Heavy? Christina Rossetti p.126
4. Houses - Nancy Willard, p. 114
5. Permanently - Kenneth Koch, p. 94
6. In the Desert - Stephen Crane, p. 89
7. If I Can Stop One Heart from Breaking - Emily Dickinson, p. 78
8. Mad Girl’s Love Song - Sylvia Plath, p. 45
9. Summer of Black Widows - Sherman Alexie, p. 92-3
10. So Far - Naomi Shihab Nye p. 101
11. How I Discovered Poetry - Marilyn Nelson, p. 107
12. Poetry Slalom - Mary Jo Salter, p. 106
13. A Fable - Louise Glück, p. 113

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not too big into poetry but with compilations like these, I tend to grab onto them. In this case, the editors did an amazing job of compiling old and new work into a compendium of poignant and touching poetry for teenagers (and really, anyone that's still a teenager on the inside).

You have Langston Hughes, Edgar Allen Poe, Maya Angelou and Percy Bysshe Shelley mixed in with more current writers like Sherman Alexie and Nikki Giovanni. The editors chose perfect poems from the past that, despite their age, young adults of today can still relate to and they can still be touched by them.

Some of my favorites were Caroline by Allison Joseph (about teasing and protecting), In the Fifth-Grade Locker Room by Rebecca Lauren (about chicks and puberty), Bra Shopping by Parneshia Jones (I don't think I even need to explain), Dream Variations and Dreams, both by Langston Hughes (because Hughes is a poetry god and can do no wrong), Oatmeal by Galway Kinnell (about going it alone, or not), If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking by Emily Dickinson (yet another slightly reclusive and batty poetry goddess), Ozymandia by Percy Bysshe Shelley (one of the best poems I've ever read about the fading of popularity, basically), The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost (a classic about standing up on your own), and the first prose by Rainer Maria Rilke (on writing).

Personally I don't think it's fair to review the individual poems because poetry is something so intensely subjective (moreso than novels, I think) that it just wouldn't do them justice. I didn't think any of them bad at all but I loved some more than others. I didn't listen to the CD as I'm not a fan of actually listening to poetry but I'm sure it would only heighten the effect of reading the work on its own.

As I said, the editors did an awesome job of compiling such great works and I would highly recommend this book to anyone that has even a slight interest in poetry. Even if you don't, it's a quick read and you never know; you might just get something out of it.

[Danielle Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has some old standbys, but includes a whole bunch of poems I had never heard. I can’t say I loved all of them, but I can say I loved the fresh voices.

[valia · Rating 2 out of 5]

there were some good poems in it, but the majority of them just didn't provoke any emotion.

[Hayden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for ENG 435: YA Lit class. Small collection of poems for highschool/middleschool aged audience. My favorite was "Bra Shopping" by Parneshia Jones.

[Emily Weathers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally stumbled upon it: an excellent anthology, especially for teaching poems to teens and young adults, with diverse and relevant selections – highly recommend!

[Casey Strauss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poetry Speaks Who I Am is an anthology of poetry edited by Elise Paschen and Dominique Raccah. This book contains 108 poems written by poets from differing time periods. From Shakespeare to Langston Hughes to Billy Collins, a wide range of perspectives are covered. Even though the voices are different, there is a common theme through all of the poems selected; adolescence and the common coming of age topics we all struggle with. The note from the publisher as well as the introduction makes it clear that this is a book for middle school students. Along with the book is a CD with selected poems read aloud by the poets who wrote them. Forty-four of the poems are included on the audio CD; some of them have introductions by the poets, with explanations as to what inspired the poem. This is a very complete collection of poems that any middle school student can read and relate to.
I definitely plan on using some of these poems with my seventh grade students. Even though the introduction says that this is a personal collection just for students to enjoy, I think that it could definitely be used in the classroom. That being said, I did have mixed feelings regarding the accompanying CD. Some poets introduce themselves, give background, say the title of the poem, and begin to read. Others just jump right into the poem without any introduction or title, which is confusing. The book is organized well however and there are notes at the top of the page correlating the poem with the CD and track number, which makes it easier to maneuver when listening. I did enjoy listening to Molly Peacock read “Good Girl”, because she gave the background story to the poem, and what inspired her to write it. I think that certain selections on the CD would be well suited for classroom use. Many of the themes of the poems include common experiences of middle school students like bra shopping, first loves, family situations, etc. What I also like about this book is that it was created with middle school students specifically in mind, the publishers note and introduction are both written specifically to this age group, which I think sets a more personal tone to this anthology.

[N_patricia Brunner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetry Speaks, Who am I is an amazing inspirational anthology of 108 poems designed to appeal to young teens. I listened to the audio NON PRINT CD as well as read the text. This collection consists of classic and contemporary selections including Dream Variations by Langston Hughes, Acquainted With the Night by Robert Frost, In the Fifth Grade Locker Room by Molly Peacock, and The Skokie Theatre by Edward Hirsch.

This collection of poems explores various themes including simple truths and profound ideas of racial and ethnic identity, love, friendship, and family life. The poems are personal and universal and will draw the reader in to discover who they are and who they would like to become.

The editor has compiled an excellent selection of poems that will capture the reader’s attention and invite them to develop the love of poetry. The audio CD is an engaging pairing to the text. Several of the poets read their own work. The table of contents is a good resource for locating the poems that are on the audio.

The poems in the text look like they may have been typed on recycled paper and this design feels comfortable and enhances the appeal of this creative collection. Also included in the back of the book are blank sheets of lined paper inviting the reader to write down their own thoughts, reflections and maybe even write their own poems.

This book of poetry will appeal to preteens and teens in grades five through ten. It is a book that students will choose to read some parts or all again and again. Teachers will want to recommend this book to encourage teens to read poetry they can relate to and be inspired by. The audio CD can be used for read alouds in the classroom or be used for students to listen to at home with their mp3 players.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the CD-component of this book. Now that I've listened to the CD, I have mixed feelings about it. Some of the poets are excellent readers that I can tell my students will like listening to. Others read at a snail's pace or just have very jarring voices. Also, the poets do not follow a uniform pattern. Some introduce themselves; some don't. Some read the title; others skip it. A few of the poets record in venues that are very echo-y. Overall, I feel like the CD could have been much more effective.

I bought this book thinking it was for all teenagers, but the introduction seemed to imply this book was geared to middle school readers. I wish that would have been made clearer on the cover. Oh well. The poems in this collection speak to teens of all ages, and I was pleased to find some great examples to share with my creative writing students. I'm glad a wide range of poems was included: free verse, rhyming, specific forms, silly, and serious.

Emily Dickinson fans, beware: They have left out her trademark capital letters and dashes. Not sure why they would do that.

Favorites:
Perhaps the World Ends Here
Cinderella's Diary
Vampire's Serenade
I Loved My Friend
No Images
What Great Grief Had Made the Empress Mute
Arithmetic
Dreams
Blackberry-picking
A Boy in a Bed in the Dark
Death of a Snowman
Eating Poetry
The Sacred
What We Might Be, What We Are
Permanently
A Dog on His Master
Mowing
Seal
Baseball
Used Book Shop
Mediation
A Fable
What Are Heavy?
Acquainted with the Night
The Writer

[Haley Mathiot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetry Speaks Who I Am is a collection of classic and contemporary poetry aimed at addressing middle schoolers in their transition from child to young adult. There is a wide range in the collection: classic poetry like Edgar Allan Poe, Langston Hughes, and Emily Dickinson and newer and present poets, some of whom read their work on the accompanying CD.

Poetry Speaks Who I Am has many poems that will apply to every feeling and thought, put words to what we can’t find words for, and prove that yes, there are other people out there who feel like you do now, you’re not the only one. You’re not alone. These poets talk about everything from the awkwardness of changing and showering in the fifth grade locker room to embarrassing bra shopping with mom, to a first kiss. There’s poems about segregation and ethnicity, homework and math class, sports, clothes, and even the emotions brought forth from reading poetry itself.

Not only does it have the poetry, there are pages in the back of artistic inspiring blank pieces of paper for the reader’s own poetry. The CD contains many of the poems read by the poets the way they were intended to be read.

Poetry Speaks Who I Am is a fantastic collection that every young lit-lover should have on their shelves.

Recommendation: Boys and Girls ages 8+

[CH13_Meghan Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetry Speaks is an anthology that begins by informing readers that, "this is not a poetry anthology for adults, for children, for classroom study, or for required memorization and recitation. It's just made for you." This collection comprises over 100 poems written by award-winning authors such as: Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Nikki Grimes, Robert Frost, etc. The purpose of the anthology is to share with readers poems that discuss topics important to young adults--first love, friendships, new clothes, self-discovery. Additionally, this anthology is accompanied by a CD. There are 44 poems read by 35 different authors, some of the poems are even read by the authors! As a reader who loves to listen to audio books, this CD really brought the emotions conveyed through the words in the book to life. Some poems are read with passion, others with anger, and yet others with great sadness.

This book would make for an excellent independent reading book for a middle school or high school student. Additionally, some of these poems would make for wonderful discussion starters for middle school or high school students who can identify with the author's emotions.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

My freshman year of High school I fell in love with poetry after doing a unit of it in English class. I wrote for years and years after that and even got a few published. But since becoming obsessed with books I haven't done much writing. But when I was offered to review this book, I grabbed at the chance.

Poetry Speaks Who I Am is a wonderful book, this is type of tool I wish I had back when I was learning about poetry. In this book there are some of the greatest poets and some of my favorites. Some of the poets included are Maya Angelou, Edgar Allen Poe, Langston Hughes, John Keats, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost and William Shakespeare. Not only does it hold all these great poets but it also comes with a CD with some of the featured authors reading their work. Plus in the back of the book there is space to write your own words. While this is aimed for young adults., I believe readers of all ages will enjoy this book.

[Tallulah Schweitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book review #4. To find who you are, is like a level in life. In Elise Paschen's "Poetry speaks, who I am", steps are taken as poems are written to exhibit the stride of growing up. The element of inspiration is a key component in these poems. The separate poems all have something special and different about them, but they all have something that is connected between them all.
Finding independence is part of life and a constituent of these poems. Finding who you are can decide what type of person you will be and what you will do when you're older. Discovery is an essential component of this breathtaking collection of poems. From inspiration to discovery, this book is more just a poetry book, it is a collection of stories that tell of life through thick and thin.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

First things first, Happy National Poetry Month! I thought I would kick off my own personal celebration of poetry by reviewing Poetry Speaks: Who I Am. I think poetry is such an amazing outlet for healthy expression. I honestly don't know where I would be if I was not a member of poetry club in high school. So, when an anthology aimed at middle grade/high schoolers comes along, then yes, count me among the curious, because, ya'll poetry changes lives.
Read the rest of my review here

[Indigo Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite poem was about black widow spiders. I loved how the poet compared them to stories. For example, the poet says something like, when we went to bed, we shook our blankets, and stories fell out. Does the poet want you to think in terms of dreams as stories, literally spiders falling out, or that you leave behind your thoughts when you sleep? Infinite ways to think about it. There are many intriguing poems in this book, including classics such as The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost. If you find that you don't like some of them, don't worry. That's the reason I didn't give this a 5; some of the poems were bleh. However, there are enough good poems that you should still read it.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a gem. I think for any Middle School library, it is a must.

[Erin Ottavianelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This poetry book "Poetry Speaks Who I Am" compiled together by Elise Paschen is a book full of many different poems written by famous poets to help students feel like they are not alone. There are poems talking about so many different things from growing up, friendships, first loves and everything in between. It is a book to inspire students, see themselves in the stories and get them up and writing. The author explained that it seems like poetry gets forgotten about in the upper elementary grades and in middle school so this book was written to bring poetry back into their lives.

This book would be perfect for a read aloud in a 5th or 6th grade classroom. Many of the topics are things that students in those grades would most likely be going through so they would be able to relate better than younger students. I would probably have this as an ongoing read aloud and only read a handful of poems a day until we got through the whole book. One activity that I would want students to do is pick 5 poems that stuck out to them the most and write on why they stuck out to them. I would make note of this activity before we started reading so students could write down poem names as we read so they did not have to remember all of them from memory. Another activity I would like to implement with this book is having students write their own poems. I would want it to about things that are going on in their life and maybe things that other people can relate to. This way my class has a chance to actually write their own poetry and then we could put together a "Poetry Speaks Who I Am" book of all the students' poems. I think this book is a great way to allow my students to see themselves in the poetry they are reading and help them write their own.

[Cynthia Egbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with any poetry anthology, there were some I loved and some I didn't care for so much. But I do believe that this collection, with its opportunity to hear many of the poems read by the authors or other competent readers, is a great way to get young people engaged in exploring poetry. I especially appreciated the mix of old and new authors. I will share two poems and one quote that are some of my favorites...

The Germ
by Ogden Nash
A mighty creature is the germ,
Though smaller than the pachyderm.
His customary dwelling place
Is deep within the human race.
His childish pride he often pleases
By giving people strange diseases.
Do you, my popet, feel infirm?
You probably contain a germ.


Every Day It is Always There
by Rainy Ortiz
Every day it is always there
Whether in mind or body
Whether i want it to be or not~
Sometimes it's like being haunted
By a constant presence
Of sometimes happiness
Sometimes anger~
But it is always filled with love
That love is my protector.
That protector is my mother.


“Live a while in these books, learn from them what seems to you worth learning, but above all love them. This love will be repaid you a thousand and a thousand times, and however your life my turn, it will, I am certain of it, run through the fabric of your growth as one of the most important threads among all the threads of your experiences, disappointments, and joys." Rainer Maria Rilke

[John M]

12. Poetry
Poetry Speaks Who I Am is a collection of poems written by various writers some of them quite famous from Edgar Allen Poe to William Shakespeare. With a wide range in poets, the styles and genres are widely varied as well. However, one of the commonalities is that all poets are inept at conveying huge ideas with an economy of words. Poetry is unique in that its message is always succinct and to the point. Poets’ choice of words and phrases to try invoke emotions, empathy, and understanding on an aesthetic level. “Valentine” by Wendy Cope is a good example “My heart had made its mind up And I’m afraid it’s you. Whatever you’ve got lined up, my heart has made its mind up And if you can’t be signed up This year, next year will do. My heart has made its mind up And I’m afraid it’s you” . I feel this poem speaks well for young adults who are in the first stages of a crush. It refers to the narrator having their mind made up no matter how the other person feels. Furthermore, the narrator is willing to wait for the loved one to come around to that relationship. This is typical for inexperienced relationships rather than one based on shared mutual feelings. It seems more like an unrequited love than an actual relationship.

[Sydney Gwerder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an anthology of poetry written specifically for teenagers. It sets modern poets next to well-known poets - both exploring similar themes. All of the topics relate directly to teens: first periods, bra shopping, relationships, and identity crises. This would be a great book to introduce during a poetry unit - not to be analyzed, but to show students that poetry is still relevant and can take on any form they choose. It might be helpful in inspiring students to write their own poems to write a class anthology.

[Taylor7778]

Source: School Library Journal Book Review Stars
Age Range: 11-18
Assessment of Quality: Poetry is meant to be read out loud; the CD accompanying this anthology gives readers the chance to listen to these poems from their own authors
Assessment of potential use: This anthology can be utilized for English class curriculum about poetry since it contains both classic work and contemporary poetry.
Assessment of appeal to children: The poetry selections are grounded in tangible experiences and places that tweens and teens are familiar with.

[太一 邱 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is one of the most cool book I have ever read. There are some many different types of poem in this book. From love story to even fantasy, the book has ever type of poem that you are looking for. Other than just putting poems on, the book also gives out picture than kind of show the theme of the book. This gave the readers a better understanding of the poem and the meaning behind it. Some of the poem really catches my attention and I hope to read more about it.

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Received this book as a gift. Didn’t find the book enjoyable. The synopsis of the book is about connecting to the teen readers. As their aren’t enough books that do. But this book doesn’t connect to teens at all. Only a couple out of the hundreds of poems connect. The rest of the poem are quite boring, and nothing worth remembering

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a great variety of poems included in this book. The problem for me was just how few of them I enjoyed. I probably just have different tastes in poems than Elise Paschen does. I believe the emphasis was more on 'current culture' type poems for this anthology, but I far more enjoyed Classic Poems to Read Aloud, selected by James Berry.

[Jason Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Keeping in account that this collection is primarily geared towards the YA/ Teen market, it is a fairly generic, general, yet inoffensive collection. Just an average read for someone who has read and written a lot of poetry.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know I missed a lot of the point of this book by not listening to the CD, but I love the selection of poems -- old and new, light and heavy -- and didn't need to go further; and besides it is rare that I enjoy a poet's reading her own poem which is heresy! but there it is.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been randomly opening the pages of this anthology and discovering marvels each time. Of course some of the poems speak to me louder than others, but it is a wonderful collection, thoughtfully put together and I am enjoying losing myself in poetry!

[Jenna Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is...a strange collection. Classic and modern poets are all mixed together with little rhyme or reason. As enjoyment of poetry is subjective, I'll say most of these weren't for me, but some of them were quite lovely.