Neil Astley has published three veritable tomes of modern poetry anthologies since and succeeded in what must be quite a publishing feat: Not only did these anthologies sell, but actually sold so well that they all have been reprinted several times. I can’t recommend these anthologies – “Staying Alive”, “Being Alive” and “Being Human” – enough. If you think you don’t like poetry, start with “Soul Food”.
I found one poem from the “Being Human” collection particularly striking. The poem is by Julius Chingono and is called “As I Go”. It is surprisingly similar in tone to the German poem “Inventur” by Günter Eich. Eich wrote it in 1945. Here’s an English translation. (I like the translation, but am not sure why “Konservenbüchse” is rendered as “Some field rations”. It means tin can, and is clearly used here as both a “plate” (=food) and drink container. I know my grandfather had such a multi-purpose tin when he was a POW.)
Comparing these two poems I am astonished at how much we as a nation seem to have forgotten.