In Their Own Voices: A Century of Recorded Poetry

I have no idea where the four CDs of In Their Own Voices came from, but I found them when I was cleaning out some drawers recently. It is National Poetry Month, I thought.

So I listened to this collection yesterday when I was driving.

And what do I think? I think it's wonderful to hear poets reading their own poetry. If you haven't heard it, I urge you to find a way to listen to Dylan Thomas read his poem, “Do Not Go Gentle.” Beautiful.

On the other hand, I was shocked to hear Langston Hughes' poem, “Mulatto.” I know it's a poem of its time, that it was written by a Black man, that it is based on Hughes' own experiences with racism—but, nevertheless, it's hard to hear.

Robert Frost. E. E. Cummings. Theodore Roethke. Wallace Stevens. William Carlos Williams. Langston Hughes. Lots of my favorites here.

Poetry (my opinion) is best when listened to.