Need some help finding somewhere to start

[random_person]

Hi,

Wandering if anyone could offer some suggestions about poets / periods / books?

Genuinely intrigued by poetry, but if I'm honest the main reason why I want to start reading is to help me to expand the mind and start writing songwriting lyrics. (all the songs I write are instrumental, have recently started listening to Tom Waits and I'm astonished some of his writing on some songs (e.g. Time), he uses a lot of imagery and listening to that I cant but help to think of the poetry I did in school a long time ago).

But I have no idea where to start! My experience of poetry is pretty much William Blake (which I'll probably revisit), but what I'm thinking may be more interesting to me would be something written in modern english and imagery. Probably I'm guessing maybe something more about stories / situations over raw emotion may be more useful to start.

Anyone know of any interesting authors or books that may be a good start?

Thanks for any help,
Jon

[random_person]

Anyone able to help? Been struggling to find things I like :(

[Henry P]

what sort of subject would you want to write about in your lyrics?

[timrichardson69]

I have written a few songs before and the best way I find, is find a tune (make one up) that you like, and try and fit in the words around that...

Where the words a concerned, Try and write about a real life event or about what your feeling??/

See where you end up.

Cheers

[mrbloom]

If you want to understand poetry, you need to read it.

I'd recommend:
-The Norton Anthology of Poetry. It's an incredibly comprehensive look at poetry over the last 500 years.

-The Poetry Home Repair Manuel, by Ted Kooser
-A Poet's Guide to Poetry, by Mary Kinzie
These are both good guides to writing, and understanding poetry. The first is far lighter, and is better starting place, but the second is more comprehensive.

The Norton Anthology costs some money. If you want to spend less, I also like The Vintage Book of American Poetry, and maybe Poetry 180 by Collins.

[random_person]

Thanks for the help, those two books look perfect :)

Mostly trying to write about emotions, people, or stories and events. Even something like the clichéd love song but in a way that is not pop nonsense.

Yeah, often when I try and write instrumental songs I always try to find a meaning first (or after a part of a melody) as I find it helps give the rest of the song direction / development. But the difficulty I'm having is taking this meaning, story etc and putting it into words. Its like its in my head / heart but translating it to paper beyond a simple skeleton is a struggle -- which is quite frustrating.

Thinking mostly to read poetry to develop a sense of english, flow, some sort of subtleness in phrasing etc. Then if I enjoy it (which no doubt I will) try and write some poetry and ultimately, try to write some lyrics that lean alot on the poetic approach.

I love this song called Time by Tom Waits, musically, lyrically, vocally it just blows my mind.

youtube.com/watch?v=B0Owl_X-m8I

Its probably never going to happen, but if I could ever write anything anywhere as near as good as that I would... I do not even know what I would do...

Thanks again for the help :)

[BenJohnson]

I love this song called Time by Tom Waits, musically, lyrically, vocally it just blows my mind.

youtube.com/watch?v=B0Owl_X-m8I

Its probably never going to happen, but if I could ever write anything anywhere as near as good as that I would... I do not even know what I would do...

Thanks again for the help :)

Rain Dogs is such a beautiful album, Downtown Train is my favourite song on it (not the version murdered by Rod Steward).

[ebrowns]

I usually gain my inspiration form other writers. works travel and life....

[Forcetheword]

If you want to start with something about stories/situations then try reading Larkin's 'Dockery and Son', then maybe 'deceptions'. Larkin is a good person for you to start with, there's obviously loads of writers you could look at but I think you want someone to be specific.
Then read Eliot's 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock'. If you want to 'get' modernist English poetry, then you have to read Eliot.