Poems for Life: Famous People Select Their Favorite Poem and Say Why It Inspires Them

by Anna Quindlen (introduction)

What is your favorite poem? That is the question students from two fifth-grade classes at a New York grade school asked famous people to whom they had written. Their idea, the students explained, was to put together a book that would benefit the WomenOCOs Commission for Refugee Women and Children. The students were also studying poems in class and wanted to know if anybody still, in fact, read and gained insight from poetry. Touched by this appeal to their hearts, minds, and memories, fifty celebrities responded to their inquiries, including Geraldine Ferraro, Allen Ginsberg, Rudi Giuliani, Peter Jennings, Angela Lansbury, Yo-Yo Ma, Isabella Rossellini, Diane Sawyer, Ally Sheedy, Kurt Vonnegut, and Tom Wolfe. The poems they offer range from John Donne to Langston Hughes, but their letters all express hope that the studentsOCoand readers of this wonderful gift bookOCowill read and take inspiration from the poetry of past and present.

OC Of all the words that have stuck to the ribs of my soul, poetry has been the most filling, OCO writes Anna Quindlen in her introduction, and this beautiful, inspiring collection of poetry is the perfect expression of how poets can influence and shape our lives."

Genres: Poetry

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Anna Marie Quindlen is an American author, journalist, and opinion columnist.
Her New York Times column, Public and Private, won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1992. She began her journalism career in 1974 as a reporter for the New York Post. Between 1977 and 1994 she held several posts at The New York Times. Her semi-autobiographical novel One True Thing (1994) served as the basis for the 1998 film starring Meryl Streep and Renée Zellweger.

Reviews

[Jinnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this four stars because it introduced me to a number of poems I'd never read by poets I've read quite a bit of. It misses the 5 star mark because of the sheer lack of poetic knowledge by some famous submitters. There were multiple submissions of Frost's Stopping in the Woods on a Snowy Night and Kipling's If, so that one imagines these poems were only known and submitted because the submitters had to read them in 7th grade English. Still, a lovely anthology and some other truly interesting notes by notable people about how and why certain poems have touched them.

[Karen Hagerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every once in a while I enjoy a little poetry (only the easily-understandable type, I'm afraid!) and I did enjoy this book of poems, all of which were chosen by famous people as their favorites. It was kind of interesting to see which person chose a particular poem, and why. I find it amusing that Ed Koch and I have the same favorite poem ("Annabel Lee")! All the really hip, sophisticated people in this book and I have the most in common with Ed Koch??? Well, whatever, he must be a great guy! :-)

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book of poetry for a reading challenge, and I'm glad I did. I had not read any poems for quite some time, so I chose a compilation with both modern and classic poets selected by notable people (albeit 20 years later, some are less notable than others). I found some poems beyond my understanding, some unrelatable verses, and some real gems which I copied down in a notebook. I enjoyed the variety even though it seemed outdated at times.

[Daphyne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet collection of poems sent by celebrities in response to a solicitation by a fifth year class of students. The selections range from silly to somber from simple to complex. Each includes the reply letter from the celebrity. I do wish there had been a short bio of each celebrity as there were several I was unfamiliar with. I also would have liked a bit of analysis. Some of the respondents offered a bit but most just jotted down the poem.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice idea for a grade school project as the children solicited a "favorite" poem from a number of public figures. The responses were then published in this collection to raise money for refugee children. I gave it four stars not so much because of the level of poetry, but for the glimpse it provided into the thoughts of the men and women who sent in a poem.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

As part of a school project, famous people were asked about their favorite poems. This is their reply letters with the poem.

Probably would look better as a hardcover. I read the Kindle and the font was really not conducive.
Interesting.

[Izzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this up from a table at the library and turned to a random page. It was "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." My favorite poem, and the universe knew I needed it. I cried right there in the aisle. Rented it. Read the whole thing. 10/10.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

It Was Okay. I Sure Won't Be Reading Anymore Books By Her. 💯

[Danielle Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is always interesting to read why a particular poem is someone’s favorite

[Ashley Stangl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The letters could get repetitive, but there were a lot of good poems here (though some people cheated by using prose quotes), and it was fun to see why certain people chose certain poems.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poems for Life, A Special Collection of Poetry with Introduction by Anna Quindlen was compiled as a service to benefit the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children. The idea was conceived by two fifth grade classes at a New York grade school. Fifty celebrities contributed to this volume including Allen Ginsberg, Joyce Carol Oates, E. L. Doctorow, Tom Wolfe and Kurt Vonnegut and many others. Anna Quinlen, in the introduction speaks to how poetry has seemingly been "shunted" onto a siding in time, so in need of brevity and truth. She also reminds us that many grew up reading books such as "The Cat in the Hat", "Goodnight Moon" , and "Where the Wild Things Are" that are written in free verse. In addition to the beautiful poems themselves, this volume is laced with letters from the contributors explaining why their poem is a favorite. It serves as a validation of a wonderful idea.
Poems For Life is a delightful affirmation of an important literary form, worth exploring because of the riches it holds.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the idea for this book, and some of the poems chosen. Made me think about what it would look like to have people choose their favorite Bible story, and why they chose it. Because the idea is that a lot of people don't read poetry any more (ever?) and wonder what it's good for. The same with the Bible. As a compilation of poetry, it left something to be desired, but some of the poems and the reasons for chosing by the notable person were priceless.

[Edie Walls · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Out of the little breath of oblivion
That is night,
Take just
One star.”
- from "Stars" by Langston Hughes

There were some very lovely poems in this collection, and it was treat to read the letters introducing them. A nice read.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection of poems!