Today is Homemade Bread Day and I’m sure that after the events leading to many of us baking quarantine bread, today is especially dear to us. The smell of freshly baked bread is comforting and warming. One of the best smells on this planet is walking into a bakery and getting a gush of warm, bread-scented air in your face. Making homemade bread is especially rewarding—kneading that dough, waiting for the yeast to activate, and seeing it bake in the oven. It’s hard work, but the smells and buttery goodness afterwards is worth it. So, while you wait for your bread to proof and bake, here are a few poetry collections you can definitely read. Happy reading and baking!
Pastoral: Poems by Carl Phillips
Our first poetry collection features the very talented Carl Phillips. Pastoral: Poems is an enticingly gorgeous read and will fully distract you while you wait for your bread to proof. He focuses on body and desire, while also layering a level of insightful inquisition over his thoughts. Phillips’ poetic voice is unique and filled with classical Greek and Latin imagery and references. Deep and compelling, this poetry collection is a must if dark academia is how you live your life.
Everyday People by Albert Goldbarth
Albert Goldbarth is a poetic genius and truly iconic. Everyday People is a rumination on everyday people and life. He is so well-learned and will amaze you with his little trivial facts that would surprise you. He goes from referencing the history of the power fashion house, Balenciaga to the war front of the World Wars in a single poem. Goldbarth makes his point of establishing and celebrating the monotonous wonder of everyday life. In this poetry collection, Goldbarth demonstrates that he is a master storyteller and will unwind the boredom of everyday people and life into poetic gold.
The Wild Iris by Louise Glück
Louise Glück is a Nobel Prize-winning author and an absolute talent. One of my favorite poetry collections from Glück, The Wild Iris is a must-read. The poetry collection is concentrated on the wonder of nature. Glück deals with mortality, nature, and the spiritual—ultimately, she celebrates the fact of life. Being alive is filled with mortal changes. To her, temporality is a fact of life, and our relationship with nature reminds us of that.
The Ginkgo Light by Arthur Sze
Arthur Sze’s The Ginkgo Light is another favorite read of mine. This poem echoes Albert Goldbarth’s Everyday People so I recommend reading them together for an incredible experience (I especially love Sze’s poetry collection). The Ginkgo Light deals with hope and light after tragedy and darkness. Philosophically insightful, Sze’s collection is lyrically introspective and full of texture, that is the texture of life. It is beautiful in its complex simplicity and draws us into a pool of life and light.
Goldenrod by Maggie Smith
A new release, Maggie Smith’s Goldenrod is on my “TBR” list. In this poetry collection, she deals with motherhood, love, and life. The power of memory is important in her collection. A talented poet, Smith transforms everyday monotony into poetic words and meaning.
I hope you have a wonderful baking day today while reading these poetry collections! Happy Homemade Bread Day, and for more poetry recommendations, take a look at my article on cozy poetry collections here.