Best English Poetry Books: You may think that poetry is not that significant in our era as we all are occupied in daily grinds, social media platforms, news and media related contents but in reality, we all do turn to poetry at the moments of greatest personal and cultural significance. We turn to carefully crafted words to make sense of life. Either to seek inspiration or heal a broken heart, poetry always helps us.
10 Best English Poetry Books of All Times
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Here are 10 books English poetry books that are considered best of all time:
1. The Rumi collection by Rumi (1207-1273)
Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī was a 13 th century Persian poet, theologian, scholar and mystic whose poetry has exceeded cultural and linguistic barriers. In this book several translators have added their adaptation to this poet’s wonderful works. There are 18 chapters which are arranged by topics such as inner work, the ego, animal, passion for God, praise and purity.
2. The Complete sonnets and poems by William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
Everyone on earth knows Shakespeare and his work. He is indeed the greatest writer ever. He wrote magic. This book combines his complete sonnets and unforgettable love poems with all of his other works. Shakespeare’s poetry is a wonderful introduction to the entry of Elizabethan era.
best english poetry books
3. Selected Poems, William Wordsworth (1770 – 1850)
William wordsworth is one of the greatest poets of all times. This is his collection of the best poems from various subjects of life. This is one of the best english poetry books of all times.
best english poetry books
4. On love and barley: Haiku of Basho by Basho (1644- 1694) translated by Lucien Stark
Basho was one of the greatest of Japanese poets and master of haiku was also a Buddhist monk and a traveller. Each of his poems depicts the comparison between human life and the drama of nature.
best english poetry books
5. Songs of innocence and experience by William Blake (1757- 1827)
William Blake was a finest artist of his time; he was an independent and rebellious thinker who hated pretension and falsity in others. Songs of innocence is his imagination untainted by worldliness and songs of experience portrays his pity for the suffering of mankind.
best english poetry books
6. Leaves of grass by Walt Whitman (1819- 1892)
He was America’s greatest poet who loved his country and wrote of it like no other. In this book are some of his highly lauded poems of modern times.
best english poetry books
7. The complete poems of Emily Dickinson by Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
Emily Dickinson was an American poet and was very little known during her life. Before her death only 11 poems of her were published. This book has 3 volumes which has all her 1775 poems that she wrote.
best english poetry books
8. Selected poems by Frank O’Hara (1926- 1966)
Francis Russel Frank O’Hara was an American writer and poet. O’Hara is regarded as a leading figure in New York school. His poetry is personal in tone and is conversational with his thoughts on everyday life. In his selected poems he supports the relationship between the poet and the person.
best english poetry books
9. Ariel by Sylvia Plath (1932- 1963)
Sylvia Plath is an American poet, novelist and short- story writer. She is known for her famous confessional novel ‘The Bell Jar’ but her poems are as moving. Ariel contains some of her outstanding poems, she opens up a world that many would shy away from.
10. John Donne’s poetry by John Donne (1572-1631)
John Donne was an English poet and preacher. His works focuses on realistic and sensual style and include sonnets, love poetry, religious poems, epigrams, songs and so on.
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