Being that Valentine’s day is coming up and that I’ve been seriously missing some poetry in my life, I found Love Poems by Nikki Giovanni the perfect little book to dip into this week.
I’ve not read many of her poems but when I was at the bookstore a couple of weeks ago I happened to look through one of her books so on a recent library visit I knew I wanted to look for one of her books and this is the one I found.
Here is a part of one poem I really like.
ever been kidnapped
by a poet
if i were a poet
i’d kidnap you
put you in my phrases and meter
you to jones beach
or maybe coney island
or maybe just to my house
excerpt from Kidnap Poem.
Isn’t that lovely? If you have a favorite of her books to recommend let me know. Or if you’ve recently read some good poems tell me about those. I tend to stick with some familiar favorites, which is not a bad thing, but it’s good to branch out.
I rarely read poetry but I thought that is lovely! 🙂
I have met her. Twice! She is really nice in person. My favorite poem of hers is “Ego-Tripping.” Her children’s book The Sun is So Quiet is also really good.
It is lovely! I definitely need to branch out as well when it comes to poetry.
I think I have one or two of her books on my poetry shelves but I don’t recall which ones. I like the poem excerpt you shared.
Reading more poetry was one of my goals for the year, but I haven’t accomplished it very well so far… This sounds good, though.
I’ve never read her (and I really should). Some of my new-to-me favorite poets are Billy Collins, Edward Hirsch, and Tony Hoagland. I’ve also been on an Emily Dickinson kick lately.
Melody – I go through phases when I read more poetry. For some reason though it’s been kind of a while. Glad you liked this 🙂
Dana Huff – How cool! I will look for Ego-Tripping. I think I saw that on the Poetry Foundation website. maybe even an audio version!
Nymeth – Me too. There’s nothing wrong with going to favorites but just makes me wonder how many wonderful poets I could be missing out on!
Stefanie – I don’t know why I haven’t read more of her before. I still would like to get the Bicycles: Love Poetry that I saw at the bookstore a while back. It seemed to have some really good stuff.
Kailana – I usually never read an entire poetry book. I like to pick and choose so I do read poetry usually throughout the year but maybe I should try to read a whole book!
Melissa – Oh Billy Collins and Emily Dickinson are my go to poets! I love them. Don’t think I’ve read any Hirsch and Hoagland though so I will have to seek them out!
That is nice! I think I need to read a book of poetry this year. I am very neglectful of poetry, I’m sorry to say.
Sounds like a nice poetry collection 🙂 You know me, I love my Neruda. Emily Dickinson too. I recently posted something by E. E. Cummings
at my blog.
I like the tidbit you posted from Kidnap Poem.
This is lovely! I just happened on some Billy Collins collections in the library whilst browsing the other days and was reminded of how much I enjoyed his poems. I should “catch up”.
Love that little poem you included in your post. Happy Valentine’s Day!
I’m so ignorant when it comes to poetry. I know I’ve enjoyed Billy Collins and Pablo Neruda. This is an area of my reading that I really need to focus on since it is pretty sad that I know so little about poetry and am such an avid reader!