It’s Friday, meaning I’m supposed to pick a title and share all the reasons why I think you should read it.  This isn’t a hard task; there’s so many good books out there, the problem is often simply trying to decide what to choose.  But even if a book rocks my world, there’s no guarantee you’ll love it to.  And that’s okay.  We’re human.  We all have different desires, likes, needs.

So, this week, I’ve decided to narrow the pick, not just to one book, but to one genre: poetry.

That word comes weighted down with a ton of connotations.  I majored in creative writing in college and I didn’t even like poetry until halfway through my degree.  It’s intimidating, it’s confusing, it’s boring.  Why not just say what needs to be said, directly, bluntly?

Because straight-forward words aren’t always enough to capture a thought, a moment, a feeling.

Now I’m not suggesting you pick up a collection by Keats or Wordsworth and immediately fall in love (though there is some pretty great stuff in there).  But what I do believe, and strongly, is that poetry has something to offer for everyone–primarily because poetry becomes a different animal with each writer, and with each reader.  Tyler Knott Gregson writes emotional and clear love poems.  Walt Whitman looks into what it means to live in a specific time period.  Some poets are flowery, others bold, but there’s nothing quite like the feeling of seeing your emotions represented perfectly on a page.

So this Friday, I’m not recommending a specific book, or even a specific poetry collection.  I’m simply suggesting that you branch out.  Look into what might interest you.  Try something new.  Pick up poetry exercises for you and your kids.  You never know what you might find.

Thanks for reading. -Autumn

• The Librarian’s Guide to Notable Nonfiction
• Managing Your Mental Health One Day at a Time 
• Ashley is history
• Coming Soon!
• Fun Finds on the Holds Shelf