Why these poems?

First, I like them. Second, my intention in creating this was to get my family and friends who don’t read much poetry to read poetry. Sometimes it feels like only poets read poetry these days and so I’m just trying to get expand the readership of poetry to a few people I know. So, I pick poems that I think they might like, relate to, enjoy, etc. I’m keeping it simple, not trying to cover the history of poetry or represent the tradition as a whole. If you are a snobby poet, don’t get mad that most of these poems are … ahem…”accessible.” I’m going to steal the term Billy Collins uses… I’ve chosen poems that are hospitable. Because I want these not-so-snobby readers to actually read the poems, not get frustrated or overwhelmed half-way through (or at the first sentence.)

That’s how I pick the poems.

1) I like them.

2) I think a non-poet could enjoy it.

So there.