Entry 13 | Poetry: Where to Start?

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TikTok Comment

Recently, one of my TikTok followers asked me a simple question: “I've never been into poetry, but I wish I was. Where should I start?” The comment had me briefly scratching my head and reminiscing on my early introductions to poetry. My reply was to recommend a classic starter: One Hundred and One Famous Poems (Barnes & Noble edition). It’s a wide-ranging collection of some of the best known and best loved poetry in the English language.

So why start here—or with any well-curated anthology?

1. Variety at your fingertips. Instead of committing to just one poet, an anthology lets you sample dozens. You’ll discover a wide range of voices, from timeless classics to heartfelt verses, and you’ll naturally begin to notice which styles resonate with you.

2. Low pressure, high reward. Poetry can feel intimidating if you think you have to “get it” all at once. But with a collection, you can read one short poem at a time—no rush, no pressure. Each poem is like a small window into another perspective.

3. A gateway to your own favorites. Starting with a collection helps you figure out which poets make you pause, reread, or even smile. From there, you can dive deeper into those poets’ individual works and build your own personal library of favorites.

If you’ve been curious about poetry but don’t know where to begin, I encourage you to pick up One Hundred and One Famous Poems (or any good anthology). Let yourself wander, linger, and enjoy the rhythm of words. You might be surprised at how quickly poetry feels less like a puzzle and more like a friend.

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Discussion: Which do you enjoy more—poetry that makes you think deeply or poetry that makes you feel deeply? Share your thoughts in the comments!