The Poets' Corner

October 15, 2007
There just couldnt be a better advocate for poetry to ordinary readers and their families than accomplished comic (and villainous) actor Lithgow, who has already worked his way into many a familys bosom with his superb recordings of song standards with and for children. Here he presents one or two poems each by 50 English and American hands. There are plenty of chestnuts, to be sure, but what chestnuts! Blakes Tyger and Lamb, Arnolds Dover Beach, Marvells Coy Mistress, Shelleys Skylark, Williams Red Wheelbarrow, Yeats Lake Isle of Innisfree, even Ginsbergs Supermarket in California, and more! Lithgow surrounds each poets entries with colloquial, personalizing commentary; a handful of other personal favorites by the poet at hand; and maybe a boxed quotation anent poet, poem, or poems subject. He gives each poet a characterizing sobriquet, too, such as The Passionate Poet for Ben Jonson and The Caustic Poet for Dorothy Parker. For the read-aloud purposes for which it was made, the book could hardly be more gratifying.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)