Poems to Read Aloud for a Lifetime

A go-to selection of poetry and prose to read aloud and read together, to mark life’s important events.

This go-to collection of prose and poetry is a handy guide to have through all of life’s moments, no matter how big or small. Organised into ten sections, such as Growing Up, Love, Conflict & Peace and Endings, there are poems and prose extracts perfect for reading aloud at weddings, funerals, baptisms, graduations, for writing in a card or sending to a friend in a moment of need.

This expertly curated collection is there to enjoy whether you have a special occasion in mind or simply want to integrate more reading aloud into your daily life. Whether it’s for fostering togetherness and connection in the informal moments that make up our lives, such as sharing a family meal or going on a nature walk, or elevating those less frequent but just as important moments, you’ll find a poem that speaks to you and your situation.

For support during any life event, turn to this anthology’s well-balanced mix of classics you may already know by heart and refreshing new voices ready for discovery, such as e e cummings, Amy Lowell, Charlotte Mew and many more. If words fail you in the face of big emotions or the vast unknown, or you want to empathise with someone or be empathised with, lean on the voices of those who have gone through it all before. Find poems on topics such as friendship, spirituality, beginnings and endings, travel, family life and much more in this gorgeous and endlessly useful anthology to keep around for a lifetime.