Recovered Body, by Scott Cairns

I read a poem [...]]]> by the Read Write Poem Staff

For this installment of Off the Shelf — the column in which we share the latest five books Read Write Poem members have read or are currently reading — Mark Stratton shares his latest reads, along with a brief comment on each collection.

Recovered Body, by Scott Cairns

I read a poem or two every few days, then think on them.

Poetry Magazine

It’s pretty cheap, and of good quality.

Creating Poetry, by John Drury

I believe myself to be a neophyte in the truest sense of the word. This book gives me the feel, without the drudgery, of a textbook. I learn from it.

The Haiku Handbook, by William J. Higginson

Again, I have much to learn. This has been a wonderful book for this purpose. Plus it has wonderful haiku to read and enjoy.

Japanese Haiku, by Kenneth Yasuda

As much of a collection as guide and instruction.

Mark also adds, “I read Dickens for words and stories. But words … words he used to wonderful effect. I also have a few of the Everyman Pocket Library poetry books; Poems of New York, the Brownings, and the Beat Poets. All have been fun. Finally, the various poets and contributors to Read Write Poem show me much in the weekly sharing of work based on prompts.

If you want to share your latest five reads, send an email with your titles and comments for each book to info (at) readwritepoem (dot) org.

For this installment, we’ve asked Niina Pollari to share her latest reads, along with a brief [...]]]> by the Read Write Poem Staff

Welcome to Off the Shelf, another one of our occasional columns here at Read Write Poem. In this column, we’ll share the latest five books Read Write Poem members have read or are currently reading.

For this installment, we’ve asked Niina Pollari to share her latest reads, along with a brief comment on each collection. Here’s what she had to say. (And to be fair, we posed this question to her more than a month ago, so who knows what she’s actually reading now!)

Have you read any of the collections or authors on Niina’s list? If so, share, share, share in the comments. If not, Niina says, “Seek them out if you haven’t. They’re totally worth it.”

Rising, by Farrah Field

The only book I’ve repurchased twice for two separate friends. This book gets called “Southern” because it has a very heavy sense of place, though I think the word “Southern” as a descriptive doesn’t get at the book’s crux. Really, neither can I in a couple short sentences. But it’s full-blooded, emotional and really beautifully written.

Stranger, by Laura Sims

Poems both terse and raw. They’re rather like blurry close-ups of the most beautiful kind.

Poemland, by Chelsey Minnis

Minnis is the kind of writer who makes me laugh and feel uncomfortable at the same time. Let me just quote the book to explain: “It’s like drinking a bottle of champagne in a roadside bathroom.”

Hallelujah Blackout, by Alex Lemon

Lemon’s second book. In this book, he abandons the crystal-sharp, cool distance that inhabited the poems of his first book, Mosquito, and proceeds to shake around a little.

A Plate of Chicken, by Matthew Rohrer

A kind of philosophy of the everyday, acutely aware of its own domesticity. Also worth noting that the book is really enjoyable to hold; Ugly Duckling Presse makes these gorgeous letterpress projects, and Rohrer’s book, complete with illustrations, is no exception. It’s proof that print will never die — book fetishists like us won’t let it.

If you want to share your latest five reads, send an email with your titles and comments for each book to info (at) readwritepoem (dot) org.