Good Poems

Selected and Introduced by Garrison Keillor

By: Various, Garrison Keillor - Introduction, Garrison Keillor - Editor

Narrated by: Ensemble cast, Garrison Keillor

Good Poems includes poems about lovers, children, failure, everyday life, death, and transcendence. It features the work of classic poets, such as Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, and Robert Frost, as well as the work of contemporary greats such as Howard Nemerov, Charles Bukowski, Donald Hall, Billy Collins, Robert Bly, and Sharon Olds. Good Poems includes poems about lovers, children, failure, everyday life, death, and transcendence.

The poems are read by Keillor and a number of the poets included in the collection. Some are wise, some are funny, some are soothing or heartwarming. All were chosen for their wit, frankness, passion, and, in Keillor's words, their utter clarity in the face of everything else a person has to deal with at 7 a.m.

©2002 Garrison Keillor (P)2002 HighBridge Company

Great read

Very good, though having the chapters divided by poem would be nice! Otherwise excellent poetry

A Pure Delight

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book is a pure delight. I expected to hear Garrison Keillor narrate all of the poems, and while his soothing voice began the book with Psalm 23, followed by Raymond Carver's "At Least," and John Berryman's "Address to the Lord," he was not the only narrator. I was surprised to hear the voice of Billy Collins reading his poem, "Nightclub," and a number of other poets and narrators reading their own or other poets' works. I also own a hard copy of this great anthology which is what prompted me to buy the audio version. At night, I put in my earbuds and listen to this book in bed as I fall asleep.

What other book might you compare Good Poems to and why?

Aimless Love by Billy Collins, while not an anthology, is another favorite poetry collection on audible.

Have you listened to any of Garrison Keillor’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have listened to Garrison Keillor read his poem of the day. He has a wonderful voice and delivery.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was deeply touched by the reading of John Berryman's "Address to the Lord."

Any additional comments?

Hearing poetry read is a deeply contemplative experience, preferable to simply reading it in print. I hope that audible will add more books of poetry to the catalog.

Table of contents

Does anyone have the table of contents for this?WOuld like to know what I'm listening to

Mediocre Poems & a few good ones

Multiple narrators, no indexing, no table of contents, a wide range poets - some famous and now a couple of infamous poets. It seems that Garrison Keillor does less than half of the poems. Not all of the woe is gone from Lake Wobegon.

Oral Poetry Rocks!

I have this book in print and love it. That being said, these poems are twice as good when you HEAR them!