Poetry books for Dh.......

Wendy Cope or Pam Ayers? there’s quite a nice book I think it is called 100 Poems on the Underground. A classic book of poetry is Other Men’s Flowers. It was compiled by a general and includes all the poems he knew by heart.

Aldom

If you are interested in contemporary poetry I recommend Staying Alive, Being Alive and Being Human, real poems for unreal times. Edited by Neal Astley.

I was going to suggest this series, too . The books are excellent and varied.

You can get them on World of Books very reasonably, so could maybe get the set for the price of a single copy at full price.

There are also some lovely free resources on the web for anyone - very accessible in that way, and often with some commentary that can open up new avenues. I discovered a lot during lockdown and especially love Frank Skinner’s Poetry Podcast, and The Poetry Exchange.

Staying Alive, Being Alive and Being Human are my favourite anthologies. I agree, real poems for unreal times.

Whatever you settle on, encourage him to read aloud - even if only to himself. It’s very good for your well being.

I have the BBC RADIO 4 book called “Poetry Please”, and it’s brilliant.

If you are interested in contemporary poetry I recommend Staying Alive, Being Alive and Being Human, real poems for unreal times. Edited by Neal Astley.

I’ve just bought the new Lemm Sissay poetry book kitty - one for me (I love him, born Wigan) and one for our Yorkshire Lass. It was for her but when in the bookshop I flicked through it and decided I had to have it too!

“ Let The Light Pour In, Lemn Sissay ( poetry, hardback Sept 2023)

£12.99
For the past decade, Lemn Sissay has composed a short poem as dawn breaks each morning. Life-affirming, witty and full of wonder, these poems chronicle his own battle with the dark and are fuelled by resilience and defiant joy. Let the Light Pour In is a collection of the best of these poems, and a book celebrating this morning practice.

'How do you do it?' said night'How do you wake up and shine?''I keep it simple,' said light ‘One day at a time'”

Magical.

zellulozaa the question was about poetry - not military fiction.

Robert Frost.
I have bought his work for my mother-in-law who surprisingly hadn't read any.

I love that he is direct yet thoughtful and you can come back to works and notice new things time after time.

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I love Brian Bilston and have also seen him live.

I'm a big fan of Bryan Bilston and have seen him live too. I call him the male Pam Ayres. A very talented, witty and humble man.

I second the Radio 4 poems not too heavy nice mix, any bookshop will have a great selection of choice. i like the ones where it is a poem a day as each day you have something to reflect on gives a bit of a well not sure of words,sort of to look forward to

My brother once sent me a book of humorous poems by Shel Silverstein. Very accessible,

Oh, GD, thank you. That sounds just the sort of thing.

I have a set of three little books edited by Daisy Goodwin:
Essential Poems for Britain and the Way we live Now
101 Poems to get you through the day and night
101 Poems to keep you sane.
Some are old favourites, some are thought provoking and some are downright hilarious. Nothing too heavy. If you can find them in a bookshop or online, have a look at them. I go back to them again and again, especially if I need cheering up.

How about Good Companions, an anthology of poems and occasional pieces of prose,compiled by John Bayley, husband of Iris Murdoch.
Or Six Poets from Hardy to Larkin, an anthology by Alan Bennett, accompanied by his own witty, occasionally caustic appraisals.

I’d suggest an anthology such as “ A Poem for Every Day of the Year” . There are several other similar titles so you have plenty to choose from.
The good thing about an anthology is the varied range of poets, subjects and styles - an ideal gift for someone who’s just starting to discover the pleasure to be found in reading poetry.

There’s probably a book based on the radio programme Poetry Please.From radio 4.

Then a book of Larkin poems, I like them too.
How about a mixed poetry anthology?