As you get home from a long day of school or work, you imagine setting your books down and going to your quiet room to curl up the window with a good book. Some people might find this boring or unproductive, but to an avid poetry reader, this sounds like a dream come true.
Poetry is a timeless and highly imaginative form of writing that has been passed down through generations. It has the power to transport readers into new worlds, evoke deep emotion, and provide a sense of calm in an otherwise chaotic world. It’s through the act of reading poetry that one can escape the stress of daily life and become fully immersed in the beauty of language and storytelling.
As a poetry reader, with love poems being my favorite, I am continuously drawn back to the same few poets. For me, poetry is a way to calm down and settle my mind; It’s like choosing to leave reality behind for a while to answer the beckoning call of relaxation and imagination. My top three poets are Dante Alighieri, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Lord Byron, with Dante Alighieri being my favorite. Each of their writing styles are unique and different, showing their own perspectives on the world.
Dante Alighieri’s love poems are some of my favorite poems to read. He was born in May
1265 and deceased in September 1321. This writer and philosopher can be most recognized
by his works of poetry. His poem “My lady carries love within her eyes” is my absolute favorite, and my favorite quote being “All that she looks on is made pleasanter.” Theres a beautiful gentleness about his words, and the way he describes things. I can perfectly imagine what he speaks of, as if I lived those experiences myself. He uses a distinctive writing style that is called terza rima, which is an Italian verse form composed of three-line stanzas. He created this for his masterpiece “The Divine Comedy.” For those who enjoy gentle, romantic poems, I recommend him.
Percy Bysshe Shelley is an interesting poet. Though some of his poems are shorter and to the point, shorter than what I usually read, I still
enjoy the simplicity of his works. Born on August 1792 and died on the 8th of July in 1822, Shelley did not achieve fame during his lifetime, but recognition of his achievements in poetry grew steadily following his death. He became an important influence on subsequent generations of poets, and His poetry is deeply rooted in Romanticism, emphasizing imagination, individuality, nature, and social rebellion. I recommend his poem “Loves Philosophy.”
Lastly, Lord Byron is another poet who I enjoy reading. He writes several different ways, including heroic couplets, quatrains, terza rima, and ottava rima. Byron was a graduate of Trinity College Cambridge before he traveled to Europe living in Italy for seven years in Italy among many other places. His time in Europe exposed him to many different cultures, styles of writing, and experiences to write about. His poem, “So, we’ll go no more a roving”, is a beautiful poem. The way he uses the moon to describe his love is perfect, and I recommend reading Lord Byron’s works to anyone who is just getting interested in poetry.
The world of poetry offers an endless array of voices, styles, and perspectives that can captivate and comfort anyone willing to listen. Dante Alighieri, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Lord Byron each bring their own unique lens through which we can view love, nature, and life’s complexities. Their words not only provide comfort but also offer pure free imagination that knows no limits. Poetry holds the power to transport us beyond the ordinary, reminding us of the beauty and depth that language can offer.
