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  The Lover's Complaint - One of...

  William Shakespeare

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  Despite William Shakespeare being regarded as the most significant figure in the Western literary canon, relatively little is known about his early life and his later ‘lost years’.  Even the exact date of his birth is uncertain. 23rd April generally accepted to be the date of his birth, could be a scholarly mistake amplified by the coincidence of it also being the date of his death.  
   
  What is known for certain is that Shakespeare was born to middle class, but probably illiterate parents, John and Mary, in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1565 and baptised there on the 26th April.  He was the third of eight children and the first and eldest surviving son of the remaining five.  
   
  It’s assumed he attended, King’s New School the nearby grammar school, but no records from the time still exist.  However, information on the standardised curriculum that did exist, introduced the young Shakespeare to the disciplines of mathematics, Greek, law, classical history and Latin which greatly influenced his writing. 
   
  At 18, in some haste, he married Anne Hathaway, his senior by 8 years and pregnant with their first child Susanna who was to be followed by the twins, Hamnet and Judith.   Little else is known until in 1590 Shakespeare probably comes to London as by 1592 he becomes relatively well known – first as an actor and then, of course, as a playwright despite some early criticism for having a writing style of his better educated contemporaries and not of his own lower status.  
   
  His iconic status now spans global literature and stems directly from the magnitude of his plays, both tragedies and comedies, and his poetry which is often cited as some of the greatest love poetry ever written.  His legacy endures despite the passing of centuries. 
   
  William Shakespeare died at Stratford-upon-Avon on the April 23rd, 1616.  He was 52.

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  Hating To Love My Life - The...

  Courtlin D. Fields

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  The first of five planned volumes of poetry, The Chapbook 1 speaks of suicide, love, breakups, the loss of a child, and the loss of a parent. However, Courtlin found a way to turn these darkest memories and feelings into something positive. 
  As a man, it is hard to express your feelings. Then, to be a Black man adds another layer. To be a light-skinned Black man, there is trouble in those waters too. 
  This is not a book to tell you how to live your life. This is not a book to tell you how to make millions. This is a book of poetry to let you know that you are not alone. Every expressed emotion is real. Every poem means something personal. Hopefully, sharing my poems with you will inspire some degree in knowing no matter your skin color.

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  One Language

  Anastasia Taylor-Lind

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  One Language is a remarkable debut collection. From the perspective of a female photojournalist, these concise but complex and insightful poems draw on first-hand experience of war to explore how damage is generated and perpetuated. The book's title expresses the contradiction between the lingua franca of photography and the equally universal language of violence. One Language comes to an understanding of personal history and global conflict in poetry that is as immediate and evocative as the most urgent of dispatches.

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  A Rare Recording of Poet John...

  John Ciardi

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  John Anthony Ciardi (June 24, 1916 - March 30, 1986) was an American poet, translator, and etymologist. While primarily known as a poet, Ciardi pursued etymology, contributed to the Saturday Review as a columnist and long-time poetry editor, directed the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference in Vermont, and recorded commentaries for National Public Radio. In 1959, Ciardi published a book on how to read, write, and teach poetry, How Does a Poem Mean?, which has proven to be among the most-used books of its kind. In the following recordings, Ciardi reads "And They Lived Happily Ever After For Awhile," “To Judith, I,” “Happiness,” and “The Lamb.”

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  Joyce: The Poetry

  James Joyce

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  In this stunning collection, the poetic genius of James Joyce comes to life through a selection of his verse, showcasing the lyrical brilliance that complements his famous prose.
  
  Joyce's poetry offers listeners a rich tapestry of themes—love, loss, identity, and the human condition—through his trademark innovation and complexity.

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  The Affirmations

  Luke Hathaway

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  ”...a trans-mystical work of love and change...”—Ali Blythe, author of Hymnswitch
  		 
  The mystics who coined the phrase ‘the way of affirmation’ understood the apocalyptic nature of the word yes, the way it can lead out of one life and into another. Moving among the languages of Christian conversion, Classical metamorphosis, seasonal transformation, and gender transition, Luke Hathaway tells the story of the love that rewired his being, asking each of us to experience the transfiguration that can follow upon saying yes—with all one’s heart, with all one’s soul, with all one’s mind, with all one’s strength ... and with all one’s body, too.

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