Poetry

We realize we should not limit our reviews of poetry to April and National Poetry Month; and yet, we don't want this opportunity to go by without reviewing some poetry. So, here we go... some poetry for National Poetry Month.

The Woman I Kept to Myself by Julia Alvarez (2010). There was a time when I gave this to every woman I knew on their 40th birthday.  Why? Because these autobiographical poems explore so many of the emotions - wonder, anger, grief, and joy - associated with living a life, in clear, loving, and need we say it, poetic language. It is just a gorgeous thought-provoking collection to help gain understanding into one's own life and the lives of others. I am so grateful it is still in print. I hope you will be too. ~ Lisa Christie

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One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes (2017). In this collection, Poet Nikki Grimes responds to poems from the Harlem Renaissance by using one line from selected Renaissance poems to craft her own words. She then places the two poems side by side for comparison and response.  The older poems include some from Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen. The newer ones are all from Grimes. The book also includes superb artwork accompanying each pairing.  Would be a great addition to English classrooms as well. Enjoy! ~ Lisa Cadow and Lisa Christie

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