Celebrate National Poetry Month With These Audible Poetry Collections

It’s often said that poems must be read aloud to reveal the music of the words. In these terrific Audible collections, every poem is brought to vivid life through the skills of a talented actor.

Seven Ages: An Anthology of Poetry with Music (4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $6.85 or 1 Audible credit for Audible members, $9.95 for non-members)

This highly entertaining anthology of verse is the comic, tragic, tender, and telling story of life’s seven ages, from childhood to old age.

Within the framework of Shakespeare’s speech, “The Seven Ages of Man,” performed by Sir Ian McKellen, are 150 great poems from all ages, from Chaucer to Emily Dickinson to Walt Whitman and many others.

The poem are presented by the finest cast ever assembled on one recording and includes Ralph Fiennes, Dame Judi Dench, John Cleese, Michael Caine, and more.

2 hours, 35 minutes.

 

The Poets’ Corner: The One-and-Only Poetry Book for the Whole Family (4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $15.95 or 1 Audible credit)

This unique package provides a unique poetry experience from one of today’s most beloved performers.

John Lithgow has compiled an outstanding collection of memorable poems and has gathered his famous friends to read them. The wide variety of carefully selected poetry in this audiobook provides the perfect introduction to reel in those who are new to poetry, and for poetry lovers to experience beloved verses in a fresh, vivid way. Lithgow offers insightful and sometimes poignant commentary to accompany each poem. His essential criterion is that “each poem’s light shines more brightly when read aloud”.

William Blake, Emily Dickinson, Edgar Allen Poe, and Dylan Thomas are just a few names among Lithgow’s comprehensive list of poetry masters. Family members can take turns listening to these poems and enjoy how each comes to life through the spoken word in this engaging poetry collection.

6 hours, 31 minutes.

 

Poetic License: 100 Poems – 100 Performers (5/5 stars, currently priced at $12.95 or 1 Audible credit for Audible members, $14.95 for non-members)

Written by: Emily Dickinson, e. e. cummings, William Wordsworth, Billy Collins, Allen Ginsberg, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and many more.

Narrated by: Jason Alexander, Christine Baranski, Charles Busch, Chris Sarandon, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael York, and many more.

On this audiobook, you will hear the music of the poems. Poetry unadorned. Words. Because in truth, great poetry needs nothing but a great actor, a voice as eloquent and expressive as the poem itself, to lift the poem off the page and into the heart.

I have never done a project that has elicited so much enthusiasm. From the actors arriving at the studio who thanked me for inviting them to participate, “Are you kidding?” I’d say, “Thank you!” to the engineers who would say, “I never got this stuff, but these guys make it so beautiful.” This audiobook has been a joy from beginning to end, a true labor of love. And whenever I heard my stomach rumbling during the production process, I always knew I could find something delicious to eat in the studio. Mmmm. Yeats? That hits the spot.

3 hours, 1 minute.

 

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