What are you reading in 2025?

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Back when I was working recording audiobooks, we recorded a book about Emily Dickinson that described her as "America's best and best-loved poet." My response was on the lines of "Best is arguable--the Brits do want to claim Eliot as their own, for instance--but America's best-loved poet is Giesel, by miles."

Maurice Sendak also edges out Dickinson nowadays, I'd say.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

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[prabe]

Maurice Sendak also edges out Dickinson nowadays, I'd say.

As best-loved? Probably. As better ... well, if you've ever had the (mis)fortune to slog through a book of all her poems, you know her signal-to-noise ratio isn't all that great.

 

[Autumnal]

When you have to read too many Dickinson poems in short order, just sing them. The Yellow Rose of Texas, the Gilligan’s Island theme, Stairway to Heaven, whatever’s handy. The poems will still be themselves but you’ll be snickering at her expense and that’ll get you through.

 

[trappedslider]

When you have to read too many Dickinson poems in short order, just sing them. The Yellow Rose of Texas, the Gilligan’s Island theme, Stairway to Heaven, whatever’s handy. The poems will still be themselves but you’ll be snickering at her expense and that’ll get you through.

mouse over text: I learned from Achewood that since this poem is in ballad meter, it can be sung to the tune of Gilligan's Island. Since then, try as I might, I haven't ONCE been able to read it normally.

 

[prabe]

When you have to read too many Dickinson poems in short order, just sing them. The Yellow Rose of Texas, the Gilligan’s Island theme, Stairway to Heaven, whatever’s handy. The poems will still be themselves but you’ll be snickering at her expense and that’ll get you through.

Hymnic meter is a trap in the English language for hack poets, yes (lyricists arguably have an excuse).