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Five Favorite Books is a special feature at the LA Books Examiner in which our favorite authors share and discuss their five favorite books within a category. In this edition, author Z discusses her five favorite poetry books. Z is the anonymous author of Getting Off, a provocative true crime tale which follows a compelling series of events that climaxes when an unknown assailant attempts to murder the author. To learn more, visit: www.skyescripts.com or order from: www.amazon.com/books.

Five Favorite Poetry Books by Author Z

My esoteric preference in reading materials range from non-fiction to verse and include many obscure/unknown authors. In choosing poetry as the genre here, I wanted to include at least one example of my eclectic taste:

1.You & I, Leonard Nimoy (1973 Reprint Edition)
Yes, that's Leonard Nimoy of "Mr. Spock" notoriety from Star Trek. Who knew? There is a heart-felt longing and warmth in Mr. Nimoy's simple words that sweep across the pages like a gentle breeze:

"..Laughter of the past
Rings through empty hallways.
The seasoning is bittersweet..."

2. The Sonnets of William Shakespeare (1609)
The Sonnets are brilliant. I read them often and always find something new to ponder.

From #34:

Why didst thou promise such a beauteous day,
And make me travel forth without my cloak,
To let base clouds o'ertake me in my way,
Hiding thy bravely in their rotten smoke?

3. Flowers of Evil (Les Fleurs du mal), Charles Baudelaire (1857)
Baudelaire's demons emerge in his languid poetry like a cast of opera divas. Each one singing of forbidden lust and doom; or being seduced by a derelict lover. A dark and colorful collection.

4. Bratsk Station and other new poems, Yevgeny Yevtushenko (First Anchor Edition, 1967)

From: "The Night of Poetry"

No fate is pure and more exalted,
Than to sacrifice life without thought of fame,
So that on earth all men will have the right
To say to themselves: "We are not slaves!"

5. The Published Poems of Sylvia Plath, (Harper Perennial; 1st U.S. edition, 1981)
Ah, the mysterious, yet profoundly ethereal Sylvia. A collection of poems to be explored and enjoyed endlessly.

From: "Crossing the Water"

Stars open among the lilies.
Are you not blinded by such expressionless sirens?
This is the silence of astounded souls.

All of these books can be purchased at: www.amazon.com/books.

For Shakespeare, go to this exquisite site: www.shakespeares-sonnets.com.

For "GETTING OFF" By Z visit: www.skyescripts.com or order from: www.amazon.com/books.