Newcomer to poetry, suggestions?

I am a newcomer to poetry, the only poetry I've ever read are small verses.. such as the ones one might find in classical literature between chapters and such.

I am not looking for poetry that is too complex or obscure to understand and enjoy, I want something that is straightforward and easy to comprehend. Atleast until I'm ready for something more complex.

I am also not after long epic poems like the divine comedy. I tried reading those, but since my english and my knowledge about alot of the things referred to is severely lacking.. I failed to grasp the full meaning.

I believe I would fancy reading something dark, twisted and perhaps a little melancholic by a prolific author as I'd much rather have a large tome with the collected works than several small books.

Anyway.. suggestions?

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Originally Posted by Chrysanthus

I am a newcomer to poetry, the only poetry I've ever read are small verses.. such as the ones one might find in classical literature between chapters and such.

I am not looking for poetry that is too complex or obscure to understand and enjoy, I want something that is straightforward and easy to comprehend. Atleast until I'm ready for something more complex.

I am also not after long epic poems like the divine comedy. I tried reading those, but since my english and my knowledge about alot of the things referred to is severely lacking.. I failed to grasp the full meaning.

I believe I would fancy reading something dark, twisted and perhaps a little melancholic by a prolific author as I'd much rather have a large tome with the collected works than several small books.

Anyway.. suggestions?

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What about Poe? His work is dark and melancholic. Try the Raven and Annabel Lee. Some of Christina Rossetti's poems are beautiful but sad, such as Remember and When I am Dead. La Belle Dame Sans Merci, and The Nightingale by Keats are also beautifully melancholic, although not dark and twisted. As for an example of that, I'd try Robert Browning's My Last Duchess, which is very sinister. Perhaps a collection of Victorian poets would be useful, as all of these are from that era.

Welcome to the forum, Chrysanthus, and welcome to poetry, too!
Wessexgirl had some good recommendations that I would concur with, but John Keats may read with some difficulty; Edgar Allan Poe and Christina Rossetti especially sound like good choices, maybe Samuel Taylor Coleridge, too. I would also try some of the beat poets (Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti), and would highly recommend a contemporary American poet named Raymond Carver - quite dark, very depressing, easy to read, and often touching.
Good luck!

Thanks.

I actually have the collected works of Poe around here somewhere, I enjoyed his stories. :D

Anyway.. I like Poe, Rossetti, and some of Browning too. :D

I think I might enjoy some of the more older poets.. the more modern writingstyle is just boring to read for some reason.

Try langston Hughes. He's great. Short, to the point and brilliant.