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I would like to read the poetry of a particular person who died recently, but all I can remember is his first (very common) name. I only know that he was a published poet and [adjunct?] professor at more than one college/university, he had recently adopted a puppy, and he lived in Chicago (probably around Rogers Park or Andersonville). How can I find his full name, then his poetry? [more inside]
posted by amtho on Mar 8, 2020 - 9 answers

I'm not a cultured person, and as such, have not encountered or made any real efforts to encounter much poetry. I would like to remedy this and try to find some that speak to me. I am particularly interested in poems about death, pain, suffering, mortality, or cruelty, and that are possibly introspective, because that's the sort of person I am. Bonus if the poet is female. English or Spanish is fine. I have access to a good library and can also buy books. Culture me, metafilter.
posted by succus entericus on Dec 31, 2019 - 47 answers

I'm trying to think of more examples of this particular moment: a character who is dying, or thinking of death, or speaking from beyond the grave, gives a list or inventory of the everyday things they remember and appreciate about being alive. A few examples inside. [more inside]
posted by Beardman on Mar 28, 2014 - 23 answers

My grandad passed away today. My family have asked me to find a poem he might like, to read at his funeral. He was an engineer who would only read 'factual' things, such as instructional/educational books and later in life, a lot of biographies. He didn't go in for poetry at all that I know of. Would like to avoid 'Do not stand at my grave and cry'. Any reccommendations? [more inside]
posted by everydayanewday on Dec 13, 2012 - 27 answers

Could you help my friend find a poem to comfort the family of a friend who has just died? The young man had gone through some bumps in his life and was just starting to turn it around, and then, tragically, he died an accidental death. She’s looking for something fairly short (under 10 lines), modern, nothing too literary, and something that celebrates the immortality of family love. I’ve looked on previous Ask MeFi posts, but most of the poems I see there are unsuitable for various reasons. She doesn’t want anything tailored to a funeral; she would like to send this poem directly to the family for them to reread in the coming months (perhaps put on a fridge to turn to for comfort).
posted by Amy NM on Mar 24, 2011 - 19 answers

I'm looking for a longer poem about death/dying that I read some time ago. IIRC, I found it via the "Poetry Sunday" series on the Daylight Atheism blog, but upon a little research, it was not one of the poems featured there. Perhaps it is by one of the same authors? [more inside]
posted by aheckler on Sep 30, 2008 - 6 answers