Poetry in Practice
Hi everyone, happy Wednesday!
I’ve got another guest post coming to you today — everyone please welcome Sonia Feldman! She’s a writer and poet who writes about feelings and flowers and nighttime and friendship. She also has her own newsletter called “Sonia’s Poem of the Week,” in which she shares one good poem every Friday plus a little commentary on why it’s worth reading.
It should therefore come as no surprise that she’s put together some charmingly cozy picks, perfect for a quiet afternoon of reading poetry. Take it away, Sonia!
My Little Library
EX LIBRIS MEDALLIONS AND BOOKPLATES - FELIX DOOLITTLE
I keep giving these as gifts to other people when what I really need to do is give them to myself. Ex libris stickers satisfy my inner dragon who wants to announce that all these books are mine. I read them and they belong to me. Felix Doolittle makes beautiful custom bookplates and ex libris medallions in a variety of watercolor designs. I probably haven’t gotten them for myself yet because I can’t pick which one to buy. Vibes for these butterflies though.
Gloved Up
One reason to love poetry is the genre’s embrace of grandeur. A good poem gives you permission to feel something grand. So why not go for the full commit? I’m imagining myself on a chaise lounge, overcome by emotion, turning the pages of a favorite book, my fingers ensconced in these truly incredible, botanically patterned, more-than-elbow-length opera gloves, and I feel very good about it. These also come in a wrist-length and cream. Plus, maybe when we all return to the land of the living, we won’t want to touch public surfaces and gloves will make a comeback. I’m into it.
Spill the Tea
EARL GREY - CLEVELAND TEA REVIVAL
I once read an article about a man who overdosed on tea and was like wait, should I be worried? Is a hundred cups a day too many? What I’m saying is I drink a lot of tea, especially while reading. If you didn’t already know this, allow me to inform you that loose leaf tea is genuinely better than tea in a bag, and loose leaf tea from an artisanal tea company is better than tea from the grocery store. I highly, highly recommend buying some Earl Grey (or anything else!) from Cleveland Tea Revival.
They have an online store, but it doesn’t contain the whole glorious variety of teas available, so I suggest looking at the menu here and then placing your order via email with the owner, Amber (amberleepompeii@gmail.com). It’s very easy, and she’ll mail you whatever you want.
Knock Your Socks Off
I haven’t worn pants with a zipper or a button in months, which means I have to get my sartorial kicks elsewhere. I find a nice pair of socks really enlivens the sweat suit uniform. Like yes, I’m dressed as a teddy bear, but have you seen my feet? They’re downright cheerful. Dueple has the most amazing selection of colors and with poetic names, too. Rose Milk? High Above? Perfume? Now your feet are ready for a good metaphor.
Read It and Weep
And now for the poetry part! I’ve noticed many people consider reading poetry to be aspirational, even if they regularly consume fiction, essays, articles, newsletters etc. This happens, in large part I think, because people don’t know where to look to find something they’ll like. Well, I’m here for you. I comb literary journals, anthologies and collections to find beautiful poems that can be enjoyed by anyone.
If you’re ready for a full-on book, I recommend Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson, Baby, I Don’t Care by Chelsey Minnis, Night Sky with Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong, All We Know of Pleasure: Poetic Erotica by Women edited by Enid Shomer or absolutely anything by Lucille Clifton. Happy reading!
Tried one of my recs and loved it (or hated it)? Wanna get something cool on my radar? Drop me a line at kittylguo@gmail.com or swing by my Twitter @kitguo!
Omg! Cleveland Tea Revival! I just stumbled across your newsletter and to see a small business featured from my city just made my day. They're truly the best