Poem For The Day Two

by Retta Bowen (Editor), Nick Temple (Editor), Stephanie Wienrich (Editor)

Poem for the Day Two is a repeat of the formula which made Poem for the Day such a well-loved favourite. There are 366 poems (one for each day of the year, and one for leap years), to delight, inspire and excite. Chosen for their magic and memorability, the poems in this anthology are an exultant mix of old and new from across the world, poems to learn by heart and take to heart.

Genres: Poetry

801 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Mark Heathcote · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve had this book for a while sitting a round unread a gift; why I didn’t read it sooner I don’t know? I found this to be a really, enjoyable book.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked many of the poems, I've discovered a few new favourite poems as the year has gone through. This is not, however, an uplifting book to read if you want to start your day with a poem, some of them a little depressing, one poem is about stillbirth. There was a point mid-summer where I found myself reading a second book of more cheerful poems alongside this one. The information about 'On this day' was pretty interesting, and I enjoyed the write-up at the end of the poem often giving information about how each poem is written, often I reread the poem again with a new insight. It was a fun task reading a poem per day for a year, a task which I will continue into next year with another book.

[Davidg · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading the first of these books, I moved straight onto the second. It is a more varied selection than the first and no poet has more than 6 (Tennyson). In fact, very few have more than 3 and most have just the one. There is a little more female representation, with 56 women as compared to 179 men, but they have only 89 poems as compared with 274. I know that doesn’t quite make 366 but you need to add Anon to that as well.

As with the first, I didn’t fall in love with lots of new poems which is what I had hoped. I do think that there are better 20th and 21st century poems out there. A lot of the ‘obvious’ choices were in the first book, so even the well known poets are represented by less well known poems which adds to the interest.

3.5 stars because it is better than the first collection.

[Richard Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Apparently I finished this book a month ago but only realised it today when I remembered reading 'The Emperor of Ice Cream' before. As with any anthology there are poems that excite, poems that bore and poems that mystify. One criticism I have of the selection is that the poems are not tied to the history given for each day. (For example on Keats'birthday we get a random poem by a different poet but on Keat's entry into Guy's Hospital, as a student, we get an equally random poem of his.) I would have been more engaged if the births, deaths or significant events detailed in the history had been accompanied by a poem from the poet so referred to. Nevertheless reading a poem a day is a worthwhile exercise and discipline.

[JoJo Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfect read to discover the beauty of poetry, rediscover a love of poetry or just to read a different stand-alone mini-story every day.

This book has rekindled my love of poetry and has encouraged me to start reading it again. The different poets in the book has introduced me to poets and styles I have never experienced before.

I recommend everyone tries to read a poem (or two) a day, I'm going to try and continue to do so.

[Hannah Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this book three stars because I didn’t enjoy the majority of the poems. There is a wide range of poets from Poe to Duffy so there should be something for everyone in there. Unfortunately I found that most of it wasn’t for me.

[KimmGr · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful wide-ranging selection, well presented.

[Jo Larkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were not quite as many stunning poems to immediately fall in love with in this second volume as in the first but I still love the idea and will no doubt make the same year long journey again.

[Sahir D'souza. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This supremely useful collection of three hundred and sixty-six poems, for every day of the leap year, is bound to delight the ardent poetry-adorer! The poem for December 31st is really good. The downside of the book, however, is that there are a fair number of sad and melancholy and also not-for-polite-company poems, so you may open the book excitedly for a poem for your sister's birthday and find that the poem on that very day is the most sorrowful and will probably make everyone at the party weep. Oops.

[Judi · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was young, I didn't care much for poetry, now I really like it a lot. I read this book on a daily basis, finding something new every time I do. I like all the different styles of poetry plus the daily events.

[Marcella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful collection that greets me every day with a new poem for the day. Plus bits of biography of the poet you read and sometimes hilarious comments, as in the one that noted be man was turned off poetry for life after hearing Alfred lord Tennyson recite his poetry :)

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this as a companion to book one. One to browse.