World Poetry Day 2015 // Three Favourite Poems

Normally when I wake up and get cosy on Twitter, I ignore the hashtags since, you know, it's normally variations of #WeLoveZayn, #ArsenalForever, #OMGZalfie and the like. Today was different. The top trend in the UK was #WorldPoetryDay which is something I can totally get on board with! To celebrate, I have chosen my three favourite poems to share with you.

If I'm completely honest, I've neglected poetry since I left college. These three poems are all works I was introduced to during my GCSEs and A Levels since I've not really paid much attention to poetry in the past 9 years. (How is it possible that I left college 9 years ago?) You'll be able to tell these were introduced to me during my ohmygoshemo phase because they're all mighty depressing. However, they are still very powerful and to this day they move me.

It's a shame I've stopped reading poetry because I really do love it and I used to enjoy writing verse too but World Poetry Day has inspired me to get my bum in gear.

Anyway, slight waffle over, here are my three favourite poems in reverse order.

#3 I Say I Say I Say- Simon Armitage

I think this is pretty self-explanatory so I won't go into too much detail. However, I love the way he has presented his poem as if it's a stand-up comedy show. Despite the depressing subject matter, it's treated as something light-hearted, a joke, easily laughed off. For me, that's a very powerful statement as to attitudes we see outwardly compared to how people are actually feeling.

#2 Mid Term Break- Seamus Heaney

It was in 2003 that I was first introduced to this poem, and Myles was 4. That was enough to have me in tears at the final line. It's so desperately sad and moving. I've never read anything that has had such a lasting impact on me as this poem has.

#1 This Be The Verse- Philip Larkin

I know, I know, I'm a massive cliché! I've written before about how I related to this poem as a 16 year old. It spoke to me on so many levels, although my views have definitely changed since!

Oh, and because I almost forgot, I'm going to slip this one in here. Whenever I wonder why I've got myself into teaching, I watch this and cry. What Teachers Make by Taylor Mali has to be one of the most powerful poems of the past few years. (It's just a shame the TDA have ripped it off for their own diluted version in their latest advert!)

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I think today I'm going to have a go at writing some poetry in honour of World Poetry Day. Wish me luck!