They Exist in the Verses, Too:
a Mini List of Gods-and-Monsters-Themed
Poetry Book Recommendations
By Eve Volungeviciute
Half/Life: New & Selected Poems by Jeffrey Thomson
This one is a bit of a mix of various themes that complement one another. The poems range from existential verses questioning our place in the world to our sense of community, even throwing in some political seeds across the pages. There are also some poems about myths which fit our current magazine theme; they are explored within different contexts so they might not be as obvious, but definitely worth checking out still!
Meadowlands by Louise Glück
This 80-page poetry collection explores themes of love, life and unravelling of a marriage through a re-telling of The Odyssey, which is one of most famous myths in Greek culture, its themes being discussed even today. Glück proposes quite a few existential questions in the book, using multiple different narrators to illustrate her point. The references to ‘Odyssey’ are both generalised and specific depending on the poem, showing the writer really knows her subject, making it a must-read.
In a Time of Violence by Eavan Boland
In this poetry collection, the author puts a huge focus on Ireland – its scenery, its geography, its folklore. She also dwells into the historical side of things, especially what it means to be a woman both in the past and in the present day. As there are mixed opinions on this book, it might not be for everyone but I do recommend giving it a try!
When My Brother Was an Aztec by Natalie Diaz
The ‘hungry’ collection of poems about Mojave family life, as the writer calls it, uses an almost satirical humorous language to explore themes that are still extremely important today, such as race, identity, poverty. The effects of white supremacy are explored in great detail, as is the portrayal of a loved one’s addiction and how damaging it can be to everyone involved. The poems themselves can be quite intense in their language, which helps the reader to engage in the story told even more.
Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson
Slightly different from the previous entries as it is a verse novel, this book takes quite a metaphorical approach to Geryon, Medusa’s grandson and the nephew of Pegasus. Abused by his family, Geryon finds comfort in photography and a budding romance with a guy named Herakles which soon turns into a love triangle. Carson’s poetry has just the right amount of contemporary flare to it that it’s appealing to wider audiences, not to mention the themes relevant to people today, such as love, sex, and identity.
Aphrodite Made Me Do It by Trista Mateer
A mixture of poetry and prose, Mateer’s collection delves into the topics of self-love and self-care while using the mythology of Aphrodite in order to illustrate how important it is to take care of yourself and build yourself back up after stressful events and how to invest in your own happiness. Considering the free structure of the book and a fairly modern approach, it might not be everyone’s taste, especially if you’re looking for a more classic feel with your poetry.
Great Goddesses: Life Lessons from Myths and Monsters by Nikita Gill
Last but not least, a fairly straightforward entry on this list. A feminist take of Greek mythology with a nice subversion of old tropes, it provides a fresh take on the topic. Gill does a great job at offering a new perspective on different mythical beings; however, some people could argue that a few poems reached a bit into the ‘man-hating’ side of things. There have also been comments about an apparent lack of cohesion between the poems so it might be more beneficial to look at them as separate pieces of fiction.