My favorite poet is Mary Oliver. Who else should I be reading?

She's at the top of my contemporary list. For a compendium of mostly terrific modern poems (short)- poems, not book) try Garrison Keillor's GOOD POEMS and the follow-up; GOOD POEMS FOR HARD TIMES. They are all there to be sampled; Donald Hall, Jane Kenyon, Billy Collins (ANOTHER REASON I DON'T KEEP A GUN IN THE HOUSE), my local poet, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Marge Piercy (ONE REASON I LIKE OPERA), Sheenagh Pugh, Maxine Kumin, Elizabeth Bishop, etc.

A free month of a poem-a-day from Borzoi...http://www.randomhouse.com/knopf/poetry/index.pperl A great way in which to start the day.

If you're interested in sampling a few other poets, Billy Collins (mentioned above) has a website called Poetry 180 with poems by contemporary poets, including some by Mary Oliver. That might be a good place to start if you're interested in sampling some new poets. http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/

i can't say i know much about oliver, but the contemp poets i (a non-poetry person) like best are: anne carson, sharon olds, and jack gilbert. people say louise gluck's new book averno is like the best book of poetry published in a long time. and everyone love elizabeth bishop and robert lowell but they are both dead and that's just what people say.

Try Mary Oliver's DREAM WORKS. For a non-poetry person, Billy Collins is even more accessible..SAILING ALONE AROUND THE ROOM is a wonderful intro . (Inexpensive and short). I love Sharon O and will check out Anne Carson and Jack Gilbert.

Gary Snyder, Mark Doty, definitely Robert Hass. Also, have you read Rules of the Dance by Mary Oliver? It's an amazing companion to her poetry, and basically taught me everything I know about how to read poetry intelligently.

li young lee. anne carson. also, i just picked up this new journal, "practice." it's great.

I just discovered Stephen Dunn...Do not pass go...read this poet... a LOT!

Personally, my favorite American poet is Langston Hughes. However, i also really like Taylor Mali and Saul Williams, both Slam poets.

Sylvia Plath.