The Best Poems Ever

In elementary school I won a book entitled The Best Poems Ever. I picked up the book today, after it had sat unread for years on my shelf. Perhaps I am uneducated, ignorant, or unappreciative, but much of the poetry failed to strike a chord with me. However, two poems of the collection stood out. The first, by Gwendolyn Brooks. I looked Brooks up, found some more of her poetry, and fell in love. Also, check out Brook's "Sadie and Maud," "Speech to the Young: Speech to the Progress-Toward," and "To Be In Love," among others.

The Bean Eaters
Gwendolyn Brooks

They eat beans mostly, this old yellow pair,
Dinner is a casual affair.
Plain chipware on a plain and creaking wood,
Tin flatware.

Two who are Mostly Good.
Two who have lived their day,
But keep on putting on their clothes
And putting things away.

And remembering...
Remembering, with twinklings and twinges,
As they lean over the beans in their rented back room
that is full of beads and receipts and dolls and
cloths, tobacco crumbs, vases and fringes.

Also found in this collection is a poem by Ezra Pound... Definitely different. What do you think?

IN A STATION OF THE METRO

The apparition of these faces in the crowd;
Petals on a wet, black bough.


Ezra Pound