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Chasers of the Light (Tyler Knott Gregson)

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Chasers of the Light (Tyler Knott Gregson)

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The poems in this book speak directly about love, loss, and the general feelings of ups and downs in life. These poems are a collection of daily poems written by the author that provide a snapshot of his life. I especially enjoyed this book because I felt I was able to personally identify with the poems Gregson had created.

-Kelsie

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Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver by Mary Oliver

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Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver by Mary Oliver

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Mary Oliver writes about the natural world and is one of our most celebrated "nature poets." She writes with such keen observation, spirituality, wonder, wisdom, and stillness.

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Glory Rognstad
I have always been fascinated by Sylvia Plath's dark and dreary life. The "love story" of her and Ted Hughes was dark and twisted. There is a lot of stories left untold about their relationship. I commend her for being a pioneer in the genre of confessional poetry.

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Ashleigh Oldham
My favorite poem from this anthology,

If you were born with
the weakness to fall
you were born with
the strength to rise

Rupi Kaur writes about real life experiences - she doesn't sugar coat the difficulties of life.  It's a very empowering anthology, which makes it extremely easy to read.  I feel like this anthology is relatable to all women, which is why it's such an enjoyable read.

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A Humument: A Treated Victorian Novel by Tom Phillips

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A Humument: A Treated Victorian Novel by Tom Phillips

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Emily Jorgenson

A Humument is a converted book of found/blackout poetry created from the 1892 novel "A Human Document". Artist Tom Phillips has the dual appeal of transforming the pages with rich color that draws the eye and powerful found poetry that ranges from the political to the surreal. There is so much to enjoy and deconstruct on each page, that this was a collection (not an anthology) that I was thrilled to explore. This collection will always have a space on my bookshelf and in my classroom. There is an accompanying website that has certain pages from the book, the artist's process, and you can hear the author/artist read the entire book! (http://www.tomphillips.co.uk/humument). This collection drew me into poetry a few years ago because it was such a unique and interesting approach and has the power to capture other hesitant adults' attention as well.

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Chasers of the Light by Tyler Knott Gregson

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Chasers of the Light by Tyler Knott Gregson

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Lauren Beam

Chasers of the Light is a book of poetry that is written on many different ephemera.  Tyler Knott Gregson utilizes a typewriter to write his poems.  He also uses blackout poetry to illlicit strong emotions through careful word selection.  He writes about love and the rollercoaster ride that humans may experience.  A quote that he uses sums up his work: "Chasers of the Light features some of his most insightful and beautifully worded pieces of work-poems that illuminate grand gestures and small glimpses, poems that celebrate the beauty of a life spent chasing the light." I think that the theme of his book corresponds well with relationships and the constant search for happiness. I find this book to be an easy read, but also a heartfelt illustration of love and heartbreak.

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Allison Collins

Pillow Thoughts is a collection of poetry and prose that struck a chord with me through the poet's use of language - sometimes simple and almost conversational and other times gorgeously figurative. Peppernell writes about love and heartbreak, the highs and lows of relationships, and elegantly and simply taps into raw emotions that will resonate with so many of us who have experienced love and loss in our lives.  Her poems and prose are divided into sections such as "If you are soul-searching", "If you need a reason to stay", and "If you are dreaming of someone"I.  These poems are like balm to the soul and in reading them, the poet invites her readers to "Make a cup of teal and let yourself feel."
I'm always looking for poems in which the poet manages to put into words that deeper heart cry and Pillow Thoughts is a reflection of such.  If you are a romantic (like me) or you like to submerge yourself in a good book of poems to process life, love, wins, and losses, I would highly recommend this book of poems and prose to you. I also quite enjoy the flow in and out of poems and short prose and think that structure further highlights the power of a poem to capture a thought with the best and fewest words possible in tasty morsels of language and emotion.

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This book of poems discusses the hard raw times of life. Kuhn shares intimate thoughts and feelings that everyone, at some point in their life, has experienced. This is a book of poems that illuminates the darkness of feelings no one wants to endure, or endure alone. Kuhn wants her poems to become a part of you and an avenue for lost words.

"This book is meant to be bent and worn, written in, tear-stained, and loved.

This book is fro you.
-M.K.

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Becky Yang
Bo Burnham's Egghead or, You Can't Survive on Ideas Alone contains pieces that I believe many can relate to, but will drive us to ponder, "Who ever came up with that idea to write a poem about?" Burnham writes across a diversity of topics from love relationships to benches to all the thoughts we have but are too afraid to speak out. Burnham's writing will cause a thrilling roller coaster ride of emotions--some will have you laughing hysterically, others cause confusion, while many will evoke deep, hidden feelings.

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Moon Theory, one of many books written by R. M. Drake, is a collection of poems that centers around the betterment of ones self. The entire, theme if you will, is self-love - educating, relating, and showing the reader that this trait is something that can not be taught, rather it has to be learned. The poems are real and raw - they show the reader that self-care, putting yourself first, and being the true you is what is valued. Personally, these poems move mountains and speak meaning bigger than oceans. I appreciate the raw feeling and emotion that R.M. Drake inhabits in each and every entry. Many times the literature we seek for is short of the honesty and truth of reality and life. However, R.M. Drake provides literature that speaks to the true events that we all, at some point, have gone through.

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I have heard a lot of people rave about "milk and honey" by Rupi Kaur. I considered choosing it when buying a poetry book for adults, but I saw that she also had another anthology. The back of the book has one of the poems from inside, and it sold me on the book. Since I have begun reading, I have found that what I love most about Rupi Kaur's work is that she is very raw. She rights exactly how it is, what she experienced, and it is so easy to relate to. While a large amount of her poems are about a bad breakup and how she deals with the heartbreak, she also talks about ways to pull out of tough situations. She writes free of the restraints of grammar and doesn't even write with a consistent structure. I am highly inspired by her real content and hope to eventually be able to open up the way she has.

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They won't tell you fairytales
of how girls can be dangerous and still win.
They will only tell you stories
where girls are sweet and kind
and reject all sin.
I guess to them
It's a terrifying thought,
a red riding hood
who knew exactly
what she was doing
when she invited the wild in.
-Nikita Gill

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Broken Flowers is a collection of short poems that center around love (both the happiness and the sadness that surrounds it) as well as the struggle of emotions within oneself over feelings of worthiness and acceptance. I love the poems in this book because it feels as if the poet looked into my soul and put things I could not into words.  The poems can also be read on the poet's Instagram account for a bit of inspiration throughout the day.

-Karley

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Paint Me Like I Am: Teen Poems From WritersCorps

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Paint Me Like I Am: Teen Poems From WritersCorps

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McKenzi Davis

Let's start with WritersCorps: "WritersCorps was started in 1994 to help at-risk youth in three American urban centers: San Francisco, Washington, DC, and New York City (the Bronx). Thousands of children and teenagers have since benefited from finding creative expression through writing." (quoted from the amazon link below). If anyone questions that power of words- I think that they can find the answers to that question in this anthology! I love that these heavy, emotional, powerful, and empowering poems are the words of America's youth. I think that this anthology can inspire our lives as teachers, and adults. These words trigger cries and pleas and dreams and wishes that connect us to the words of these teenagers! I know that I was inspired by the forward of this anthology- written by Nikki Giovanni. I love the poem "Paint Me Like I Am" by Delia Garcia (also shared to the padlet).

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Ten Poems to Change Your Life by Roger Housden

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Ten Poems to Change Your Life by Roger Housden

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Julie Griffin

Roger Housden has published twenty-two books, including theTen Poems series, which began in 2001 with Ten Poems to Change Your Life and ended with the publication of Ten Poems to Say Goodbye in 2012. Every poem included in the book Ten Poems to Change Your Life carries with it a powerful message of love, faith, loss, recovery, adventure, reflection and gratitude. Roger Housden even includes his own commentary on each of the poems (I realize some people may not appreciate reading his commentary, however I thought his thoughts, opinions, and interpretations of each poem were interesting to read). The poems chosen are timeless and very worthwhile reading. Anthologies like Roger Housden’s Ten Poems series are great for discovering writers and poems you may not have otherwise come across.

Also be sure to check out:

- Ten Poems to Change Your Life Again & Again

- Ten Poems to Open your Heart

- Ten Poems to Last a Lifetime

- Ten Poems to Set You Free

- Ten Poems to Say Goodbye

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Egghead, Or, You Can't Survive on Ideas Alone by Bo Burnham

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Egghead, Or, You Can't Survive on Ideas Alone by Bo Burnham

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Katie Martin

Bo Burnham is a rather well-known comedian and actor. This book is a collection of poems that he wrote with a huge range of topics. Many of the poems are very funny and a tad inappropriate, while others are more thought-provoking and and emotional. Many of the poems do have more "explicit" language and adult topics, which would definitely make it inappropriate for children. Here's one of my quick favorites from the book!

Forever and an Instant
Forever and An Instant met up one day,
Had a short, but lovely talk,
then each went on it's way.

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20 Poemas de Amor y una Cancion Desesperada -por Pablo Neruda

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20 Poemas de Amor y una Cancion Desesperada -por Pablo Neruda

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-20 Love Poems and a Song of Despair -by Pablo Neruda

I treasure this anthology by the Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda.  The twenty love poems and the song of despair are all included in his original language of Spanish with the English translations included side by side.  The poems were first published when Neruda was 19, which both blows my mind and inspires me deeply.  Such beautiful words from so young a poet.  This anthology makes me believe in love.

-Cassidy

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Madison Broome

The title is pretty boring but also very fitting for this adult anthology. This is a pretty thick book of great, short poems. The table of contents at the front guides you to about any topic you can think of: biblical references, a simple day, music, scenes, lovers, day's work, sons and daughters, language, a good life, beasts, failures, complaint, trips, snow, lives, elders, the end, etc. I like this book because it is full of tons and tons of poetry topics, many of which I have been inspired to write my own poetry from.

He also has other anthologies that are titled "Good Poems about American Places" and  "Good Poems for Hard Times" which are also great and more specific.

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*trigger warning: this book could evoke feelings of trauma for victims of sexual abuse*

Rupi Kaur writes one of the most real and beautiful anthologies of poetry that processes generations of sexual abuse in her family. The chapters (the hurting, the loving, the breaking, & the healing) tell a story of renewal. This is truly one of the best books of poetry and one of the best books, period, that I've read in quite a while.

-Leanne Gosey

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2006 Kakalak (An Anthology of Carolina Poets) 

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2006 Kakalak (An Anthology of Carolina Poets) 

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Editors: Lisa Zerkle, Richard Allen Taylor and Beth Cagle Burt

One of McKinley's Favorites

I found 2006 Kakalak to be very interesting because all the poems selected were written by North and South Carolina authors. Many of the poems are also about North Carolina. Another reason I would recommend this anthology is you can use MANY of the poems with kids when you incorporate scaffolding.

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Billy Collins

I love this collection of poems because Collins writes about simple and small moments. Moments that many people overlook. Reading his poems helps me to be aware of the beauty all around me that I might take for granted.

-Marlaina Moss

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The Place My Words are Looking For-Paul B. Janeczko

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The Place My Words are Looking For-Paul B. Janeczko

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These poems cover both a variety of topics and sentiments, which is why I like it. Some are silly and light, and others make you feel a little more deeply. Another feature about this particular anthology is that it includes some "mini biographies" about the poets whose works were included, along with a picture. It is interesting to learn and see the authors of the poems I enjoy.