Customer Reviews

Great Short Poems (Dover Thrift Editions)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This anthology contains many of the finest ' short poems' ever written. It is of course one of tens of such anthologies in which these great works are presented to the reader. What strikes me always in reading them, or rereading them is how much beauty and goodness can be given in a few short lines.
A short poem presents an opportunity to the reader to not simply read the poem, but to go over and over it , and finally memorize it. Then that poem the reader takes with them everywhere. It becomes part of oneself. And those lines are there for whatever time in life one may need them.
This anthology contains just to mention a few Dylan Thomas ' Do not Go Gentle into that Good Night' the "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day" sonnet of Shakespeare, " Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening " of Frost, and many other poems which are part of the collective poetic consciousness of the English reading world.
Whether in this anthology, or in others like it, or in the collected poems of the respective poets, these poems are there and available to us all.
How lucky and blessed we are.

Paul Negri presents here more than 150 poems ranging from the 17th century till today. You'll find English and American poems. A very recommendable collection for little money!

My parents read me one poem a night every night since I was 4 until I could recite them all. I would like to do the same for my children. This is a fantastic selection. Short and concise poems covering most famous poets. About 30% are impressionable to children. I also bought the greatest poems for children as well.
I didn't mentioned the price, did I? Dimes for gems.

When I was growing up,my macho friends drilled an ingrained dislike of poetry into my head. "Poetry is for girls and sissies,they explained." So in grade school,high school and college,I read Hemmingway,Mailer,Uris and their imitators and ignored poetry.

Fortunately for me,during my senior year in college,I began to explore different forms of literature other than just novels. I developed an interest in short stories and essays and decided to take a closer look at poetry. But knowing nothing about this form of writing--I needed a tutorial--something to help me understand poetry. I chose the book "The Poet's Handbook"--by Judson Jerome to help me better understand and appreciate poetry. It was a good choice and I just finished reading it for a second time.

But let's get to the subject of this review--"Great Short Poems". Some of my all time favorite poems are in this compact book--and I carry it with me when traveling to revisit the enchantment and magic of these poems.

Whether you are a novice to poetry,a long time poetry lover or whatever--you will doubtless love the collection of poems in this book. And for a buck fifty--you can't go wrong.

My interest in classic poetry has been a passion of mine for many years. This collection, published in the Dover Thrift edition, is one of the very best. Even though this small book is only 54 pages, it has some of the most beautiful poems ever written.

Some of the fantastic poets in this collection include: Sir. Walter Ralegh, William Shakespeare, John Donne, John Milton, Anne Bradstreet, Sir George Etherege, William Blake, William Wordsworth, Robert Burns, George Gordon, Lord Byron, John Keats, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Edgar Allan Poe, Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman and many other well-known great poets.

In conclusion, this little book is a true value for anyone who loves poetry. The book is an incredible bargain for the amount of poetry education one can gain by reading this volume.

Rating: 5 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Season of the Warrior: A poetic tribute to warriors)

The words all sound alike, what's that all about!
What's to say, all the pages were there. Good price,
quick shipping.

If you think poetry is for the effete, the bookish, the prancing literary princes, then you need to read these. These poems are what enduring poems should be---courageous, honest and raging with vitality. They speak to what every one who has ever lived knows... joy, pain, love, loss and death... and they do it understandably. Don't be afraid to try it. It's practically free.

This book is a great deal, both in content and price, for those who enjoy just sitting and reading short poetry. Cover is very nice and better quality than I thought it would be for the money.

Wonderful poetry just not what I thought it would be. I was looking for poetry from today's poets. Great poetry spanning 500 years of English and American literature. Worth the purchase just to have in library.