Written by: Margaret Devlin
Towards the end of my first semester at college, I met with my advisor to discuss changing my major to “anything besides English.” Since I had no clue what I wanted to study in its place, I signed up for a handful of gen-eds and hoped for the best.
Now nearing the halfway point of my college career, I am beyond grateful for an introductory poetry class I took last spring. Poetry rekindled my passion for words, verbs, language, and stories. Without being dramatic, poetry kind-of-completely changed my life for the better.
Since 1996, the Academy of American Poets has recognized April as National Poetry Month, and in celebration, I have compiled some of my favorite poems below. You might find something that resonates with you, or you might not!
When I read poetry, I have to get comfortable with knowing I might not “understand” what I’m reading. After a few reads, I can get a feel for a poem, but it can be challenging to explain it to someone else. Each poem is a unique experience.
Ada Limón, the Poet Laureate of the United States, has written three of my top ten favorites: “Someplace Like Montana,” “Lover,” and “Calling Things What They Are.”
The next few poems were introduced to me during my poetry class: “What the Living Do” by Marie Howe, “The El” by Joan Murray, “The Truth the Dead Know” by Anne Sexton, “Meditation at Lagunitas” by Robert Hass, and “Kitchenette Building” by Gwendolyn Brooks.
These last two poems arrived in my inbox from the Poetry Foundation: “MASH” by Kush Thompson and “Peanut Butter” by Eileen Myles.
I have read these poems many times, and I find myself landing on a particular line or phrase throughout each day. In a few short weeks, the Long River Review will publish the twenty-eighth issue of our magazine. Our poetry panel is top-notch, and I’m thrilled to read through the incredible batch of poems they selected for publication.