I've recently taken up reading poetry. I read a variety of poetry as an English major, of course, and always enjoyed it, but never read it on my own. But recently, for reasons unknown to me, I've been craving verse.

What I like about a poem is that it's a puzzle. It takes figuring out. It takes focus. Poetry keeps my mind sharp. And open. And there is such delight in it. Such economy and beauty. Poetry is an incredible craft. I've been reading it before bed, and it has been the perfect way to end the day because it both presents a challenge and soothes me before sleep.

I bought Word of Mouth and loved it. It's a compilation of poems featured on NPR. I always enjoy hearing poets read their work during that segment, and I was thrilled when I happened upon this book at Barnes & Noble. And I definitely recommend it as an excellent collection of (and introduction to) contemporary poetry.

David Lehman is the poet I liked immediately upon hearing him read his poems on NPR. Part of the reason I bought Word of Mouth was because his poems were included. Recently at a book fair, I found two of his books of poems, The Daily Mirror and Valentine Place. I bought them both. I was especially intrigued by The Daily Mirror because it's the result of an experiment he began - to write a poem every day. It is, as he calls it, "a journal in poetry." I loved the concept, but many of the poems, honestly, didn't resonate with me. Nor did many of the ones in Valentine Place. There are some gems, but overall he proved to be not the right fit for me.

That's okay - I've got several more books by other poets stacked on my nightstand. And I'll happily take your recommendations if you've got any.