Other books related to poetry
Shakespeare by Another Name: The Life of Edward deVere, Earl of Oxford, the Man Who Was Shakespeare, by Mark Anderson
After reading this 380 page book (minus the appendixes and notes), I was convinced that Edward deVere is the true author of the Shakespeare plays. Anderson makes his case by showing how much deVere’s life parallels the contents of the plays. He offers logical explanations and provides incredible insight. Even some famous Shakespearian actors are on board with this idea. For any fan of the Bard, I think this is required reading. I was fascinated. Want to shout from the rooftop, “Edward deVere wrote the plays, not that guy from Straford-on-Avon!!”
Paradise Lost, by John Milton
Genius. I’m extremely impressed by the arguments in the text, the vision, the knowledge of his religion, the poetry, his use of iambic pentameter to craft the wording…and all while going (or already was) blind. Poetry lovers should read this epic.
Some of my favorite quotes:
“Here, happy Creature, fair Angelic Eve,
Partake thou also; happy though thou art,
Happier thou mayst be, worthier canst not be:
Taste this, and be henceforth among the Gods
Thyself a Goddess, not to Earth confin’d,
But sometimes in the Air…”
This comes from Book 5, the moment when Satan is tempting Eve. What Satan is saying is deceptively simple, but perfect for his aim. Such a creepy moment, yet aren’t we Eve everyday?
“…horror and doubt distract
His troubl’d thoughts, and from the bottom stir
The Hell within him, for within him Hell
He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell
One step no more than from himself can fly
By change of place: Now conscience wakes despair
That slumber’d, wakes the bitter memory
Of what he was, what is, and what must be
Worse…”
From Book 4, my goodness, what excellent writing. This captures Satan’s plight, and what he is and must endure.
“Hail holy Light, offspring of Heav’n first-born,
Or of th’ Eternal Coeternal beam
May I express thee unblam’d? since God is Light,
And never but in unapproached Light
Dwelt from Eternity, dwelt then in thee,
Bright effluence of bright essence increate.”
From the opening of Book 3, this was this first time I said Holy shit! Milton is brilliant. The eternal coeternal beam?! Only Shakespeare could match that. Maybe out of context this might seem to be nothing spectacular, but it doesn’t get much better than this, people!
And one final one because it makes me laugh. My friend Bill, who was visiting NYC, told me he couldn’t meet up with me, and so I sent this quote in response. Unfortunately, he took it seriously, like I was telling him to go to hell. But who in 2026 would quote Milton to express anger. It was obviously a joke, or so I thought.
“Hence then, and evil go with thee along,
Thy offspring, to the place of evil, Hell,
Thou and thy wicked crew; there mingle broils,
Ere this avenging Sword begin thy doom,
Or some more sudden vengeance wing’d from God
Precipitate thee with augmented pain.”
Dickinson: Selected Poems and Commentaries, by Helen Vendler
If you love Emily Dickinson but struggle to understand her, get this book. It isn’t so much that you need someone to interpret the poems for you, but, I think, more like you need help understanding how Dickinson thinks and can interpret and appreciate the poems on your own. Vendler is highly intelligent, and, honestly, I would never get some of the poems on my own. So it’s fascinating. And you can see the genius of Dickinson with the help of this professional.
Gay Soul: Finding the Heart of Gay Spirit and Nature
Interviews by Mark Thompson—with sixteen writers, healers, teachers, and visionaries
This isn’t about poetry, rather it’s a book that has helped me become the poet I am, the man I am. I highly recommend this if you want to evolve as a human being. As a Catholic, I recommend this to all gay Catholics who know that love goes beyond the body—it is infinite, and to dictate these temporary bodies with it, saying it is divine law, I can’t believe is ultimately God’s will.