Although I’ll be the first person to admit that I love nothing more than curling up with a book of poetry, there is something very special about hearing the words on a page come alive through a writer’s voice. The way in which poets play with language becomes evident upon listening to the manner in which they read their work. The speed and volume at which poets read allows us to better understand the tone of a piece. Punctuation and rhythm come alive.
Keeping with poetry’s oral traditions, here are a few videos and recordings of poets reading their work.