What do the movies Shakespeare in Love (1998), Bright Star (2009), and Howl (2010) have in common? They are all based on poems and poetry. The Columbia Granger's World of Poetry database is an accessible and informative resource for poets and their works.
The quick search feature at the bottom of the home page allows users to search for poets and poems by name. There are tabs across the top for searches by subject, biography, commentaries, history and criticism, poetry sources (ex. Afghan poetry), and a glossary. There is a nice feature that allows users to hear a poem read aloud by clicking on the "audio" link for a poem.
For students, there is a feature that allows the user to compare poems. There is poetry trivia on the home page and a featured poem. There is also a free smartphone app for the featured poem and trivia. The only drawback to the this excellent database is that some poems, presumably due to copyright restrictions, are not reproduced in full. The biographical information and list of poems for each poet are extensive and there are references for further research.
Finally, under the final tab on the home page, the last link is for the top 500 most anthologized poems, a treat. The number one poem? "Kubla Khan: or, A Vision in a Dream" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Well worth reading.
--Harry C., Reference
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