5 Top Poetry Podcasts Featuring Classic Poems Read Aloud

Listen to classic poems read aloud on these 5 top poetry podcasts. Stamp out bad poetry by reading the masters before writing your own creations.

ClassicPoetryAloud: If you're never going to finish reading "The Prelude" in its entirety, Classic Poetry Aloud lets you enjoy brief excerpts from Wordsworth and other renowned English-language poets. Some generous guy in London has posted almost 600 works and takes special requests by email. This hero prefers anonymity saying it's the poetry that matters, not him. I'm still hoping to finish "The Prelude," but I love visiting here.

University of Bath Public Lectures: The University of Bath's public lecture series brings you the latest research from experts on poetry and many more subjects. Their podcasts won the European Excellence Award in 2007. Hear journalist Nicholas Fogg weigh in on the endless debates over Shakespeare's sonnets, physicist Jocelyn Bell Burnell talk about how poetry portrays astronomy, and poet Kevan Manwarring describe poetry in the movies from Shakespeare to Slam.

University of Oxford First World War Poetry Digital Archive: Don't even get me started on people who dismiss these classic poems as too sentimental. This archive has about 20 recordings including advice on how to teach these works to children and in higher education settings. There's even two enhanced podcast tours designed to be used on your mobile while visiting the Imperial War Museum in London. They explain links between some of the displays and poets and poetry of the period.

Griffin Poetry Prize Podcasts: Spot future classics on these readings from the world's most generous poetry award now doubled to $200,000 Canadian. Each year they pick one Canadian and one international English-language poet. Indifference poses a much bigger threat to the future of poetry than any controversy. I'm intrigued by how 2001 prize winner Anne Carson is widely read and collects major honors including a MacArthur Fellowship and T.S. Eliot Prize while many scholars and critics call her incompetent or worse.

Poetry Foundation Audio and Podcasts: The Poetry Foundation is an independent literary organization that publishes "Poetry" magazine. It's devoted to making poetry more visible and influential in American culture. Their audio and podcasts feature daily poems, poetry lectures, articles from their magazine, and profiles of essential American poets. Sign up for their email newsletter so you don't miss anything.

Personally, I'd make reading poetry a requirement for getting a license to write your own. Listening to classic poems read aloud on poetry podcasts makes it easy.