Most Influential Poet(s)

Ginsberg, Ferlinghetti, Keroac, Plaith, Eliot, Samuel Beckett (Okay, so technically not a poet, but still a fantastic writer)....uhm, that's all I can think of for now. Existential and dada poetry/writing has always been my favorite.

i think all of mine have been said.

of course i think pete wentz is an amazing poet, but i am borderline fangirl so my opinion doesn't really count. : )

I don't think any poets have influenced me... or maybe they have without me knowing it?
I tend to read there's and just wish I had been the author because its made me feel all warm inside, lol.

Recently i've been looking much deeper into poetry, and i've grown an even keener liking in a few classic poets: Tolkien, Poe, and Tennyson.

Looking deeper into poetry I've the structure they use facinating--and yet so simple. This has opened my eyes to the facinating possibilitys that poetry has in store.

My favorite out of the three I listed would probably be Tolkien. I enjoy his work because of its deep roots in literature, folktales and mythology, his use of rhetorical devices, imagery, an lyrical quality.

~Bard

Edgar Allan Poe influenced me quite a bit, because of the gothic nature of some of his poems, the strong emotions, but then I also was influenced by some of his nonsensical poems.

Tim Burton also influenced me, he has a very quirky style with strange, abstract/downright weird themes.

Lastly, I like William Blake and Lord Byron's work, partially for the subject matter, but also for the excellent style.

I cannot -- seem to say --
What influences I have known,
My poems do -- not portray --
From whose writing they have grown!

(My attempt at an E.D., except it rhymes ABAB instead of ABCB and has a more consistent feeling meter. "Influences" doesn't really work, though. Oh, well.)

Rosabelle Illes all the way

Even though her structural skills tend to scare me sometimes, her poetry remains simply wonderful.

I don't..really..read poetry. Like, published stuff.

-hides-

Hmm, I'll throw in mine..

Langston Hughes no doubt in my mind. Also, a lot of Hip Hop artists that actually still do the art of poetry and lyrics et cetra...Like Common, Zach da la Rocha, Nas, Black Thought among others.

Y'know, I don't read much poetry (something that irks my dear friend to no end - I owe her a public apology: sorry, Baz!), even though I write a little bit.

The poets who've had the most influence on me are the group of slam poets who performed at the Young Vermont Writers' Conference. I'd never thought poetry could be much fun (er, sorry, Shakespeare and Dickenson, Milton and Shelley) until I saw them/heard their poems.

I'm also a big fan of Bob Dylan, John Lennon and Jim White.

(I have a hard time comprehending poetry unless I hear it; I don't know why. Thus, the poets I like best (and who've had the most influence on my work) are poets whose work is meant to be heard and not seen.)

I don't..really..read poetry. Like, published stuff.

-hides-

I second that! -_- I'm trying to find more books of poetry to read so I can take my own advice. [It's amazing how many people don't take their own advice.] But it's not like reading novels, or even short stories...So it's odd. I'm trying to hunt some stuff up, but it doesn't happen too often...eh. Eventually.

I don't..really..read poetry. Like, published stuff.

-hides-

I second that! -_- I'm trying to find more books of poetry to read so I can take my own advice. [It's amazing how many people don't take their own advice.] But it's not like reading novels, or even short stories...So it's odd. I'm trying to hunt some stuff up, but it doesn't happen too often...eh. Eventually.

Anthologies are good places to start reading poetry -- most of the books I've got are random anthologies, like from "Poetry Daily" and "Best American Poetry" and stuff, because then you get a whole mix of styles and subjects and - depending on the book - times. So you're not just stuck with one writer and their preoccupations, and you get a range, and there's probably something in there that you'll like.

shelley? shelley? .........anybody? o well, i just find the whole romantic era of poetry really interesting- lots of imagery......i havent come to the stage where i really appreciate the long lined, unrhymed andvery metaphorical poetry. i kinda find shelley to be like a family friend who i can meet once in a while. i'd also add shakespeare and wordsworth...... o yes wordsworth.

*jumps up and down, waving hand in air* WALT WHITMAN, WALT WHITMAN! Though I'm ambivalent about a lot of his word, e.e. cummings has certainly influenced the way I think about writing. Billy Collins is also a cool contemporary poet.

I agree with Meep, though, it's also great hearing it out loud. One of my favorite poet/musicians is Leonard Cohen. My god, he's amazing. *squees*

Personally, Mary Shelley is the most influential literary figure for me. She is the reason I got into literature.

Poetry wise, Percy Shelley, Sylvia Plath, Robert Frost, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Lewis Carroll, ETC.

If I think of any more I will EDIT them in.