poetry for beginners?

[underground]

i have never really been a fan of poetry (mainly because i am aesthetically-challenged), but i'm trying to change that. which authors would you recommend for me as a beginner? i would prefer someone not as famous as byron, keats, and shelley because i first read them in high school, and even though it's been a while, my opinion now will undoubtedly still be influenced by my opinion back then. :p

[mono]

Hmmm, perhaps if you feel 'aesthetically challenged,' as you described, and have difficulty with poets like Lord Byron, John Keats, or Percy Bysshe Shelley, maybe you would more enjoy some of the more straight-to-the-point poets.
Though also famous, but of a different style and era, you could possible give a chance to W.H. Auden, Robert Frost, Sylvia Plath, D.H. Lawrence, some of the beat poets (Allen Ginsberg, Jack Keruoac, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Charles Bukowski), and some poetry by T.S. Eliot. If neither of these work, I could certainly try for more recommendations.
Good luck! ;)

[Serenata]

I found that when I first started to gain interest in poetry, that Emily Dickinson gave me a pretty good start.

[mono]

I found that when I first started to gain interest in poetry, that Emily Dickinson gave me a pretty good start.
Same here, Serenata; Emily Dickinson began much of my love for poetry, too. I struggled with recommending her to underground, however, mainly because she uses a lot of symbolism, metaphors, and odd imagery that can seem difficult to understand.
If you feel up to the challenge, underground, I also recommend Emily Dickinson. I think her impossible to overlook as one of the best poets to have ever lived, but also quite challenging.

[aeroport]

I would also recommend W.H. Auden. Additionally, for the more pentametric palette, Alexander Pope is cool. However, I myself could not at all be considered well-versed in poetry either - do excuse the pun; I considered "conversant" but one rather faces the same dilemma. English certainly is a fun thing, is it not? - so I will, I think, snatch away some of these suggestions for myself.

[subterranean]

How about Kingsley Amis?

Amis' works were among the first poems I read (along with other modern poets like Peter Porter and Dom Moraes). I'm not sure why you use the word "beginners". Are you asking recommendations for somewgar easily-read poems?

[Nightwalk]

The impression one can get of your lack of appreciation for the Romantic/Academic poets that you mentioned may imply that you prefer poets/poetry that they wouldn't normally teach in schools. mono made very good suggestions related to this and I suggest you check out the works of the avant garde/modernist poets. They might be of interest to you. The definitive 2-vol. Poems for the Millenium series are the perfect place to start.

Here are the links to those books in the amazon site.

Vol. 1

http://www.amazon.com/Poems-Millennium-University-California-Postmodern/dp/0520072278/sr=1-1/qid=1158256697/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-7764937-9430367?ie=UTF8&s=books

Vol. 2

http://www.amazon.com/Poems-Millennium-University-California-Postmodern/dp/0520208641/sr=1-2/qid=1158256797/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-7764937-9430367?ie=UTF8&s=books

[mir]

BILLY COLLINS

i'm not a huge fan of reading poetry either, but his is amazing - i think he's the Poet Laureate of England or America or some such, but his stuff is absolutely beautiful, and very accessible.

[MikeK]

I considered myself 'aesthetically challenged' as well, and was never interested in poetry throughout school. The guy who got me into poetry was Robert Frost. I always suggest him when people ask, like you did, about a good place to start because Frost worked for me.

[Nossa]

I'd say T.S Eliot...maybe W.B Yeats..
Dunnow...but I find them pretty easy in terms of words and meanings..
Dunnow if anyone will agree with me...but they were the first people I read for when I started being interested in poetry..didn't have much of them in uni. so far...but they're great if you ask me...