Poetspeak

Hm. Sort of dated... for example smoke from an ashtray is meant to "signal warmth and comfort." Probably best for those of us who were young teens (the target audience) within a couple of decades before or a few years after the publication date of 1983 (especially if read with the older cover). And the poems that get notes are the ones that are easiest/ most accessible, generally. Some of the others bewilder me.

Also quite white and male, as evidenced by the photos in a sort of 'preface' design. No evidence that I see of people from outside the US, except maybe Canada.

Still, interesting, much of it worth a read for someone like me who is trying to educate herself in lieu of a good class or course in poetry.

Objectively, that is to say, show more maybe a three star read. But I didn't mark one bit worth sharing here, or worth remembering, so two stars for me.

Oh, except, it's not Juvenile, as my library marked it, but YA. There's a poem on rape that's much too intense for children or for those sensitive to 'triggers.' show less

One of the best anthologies i have ever read!!!! A selectoin of poets' own poems, many with notes explaining how they came to write the poem and what it means to them. THis is one of the first anthologies that is not divided by themes, but instead, each poem leads to the next; a subtle journey from childhood to war to nature to aging and more. I am so glad I started at the beginning and just read through it over a period of weeks.