In honor of April being National Poetry Month I finally read this eARC that's been sitting on my Netgalley shelf! My past English major self loved the concept of this- 113 poets wrote poems based on Taylor Swift songs. I don't know every song, but I still enjoyed this - especially when switching back and forth between a guide that I googled-the poems have lil easter eggs to let swifties sleuth out which song they're based on. Fun to mix things up a little with a different genre!
I enjoyed some poems more than others, and felt like I really appreciated the ones based on songs that I was more familiar with. I would recommend this to any Taylor Swift fan-I think they'd really enjoy this homage to her lyrics- especially the forward that commends her writing as poetry in itself!

This was really interesting to read. I was expecting each poem to explicitly say which song it was inspired by. Instead, as you read the poems, you can understand which song is being referenced. It's a very creative way to be part of Taylor's world, and to feel connected to her. I loved the about the contributors section: it was nice to see their accomplishments celebrated.

Invisible Strings: 113 Poets Respond To The Songs Of Taylor Swift is a new anthology edited by Kristie Frederick Daughterty. It features poems written by 113 different authors in response to various songs written by Taylor Swift. I was intrigued by the concept of this book. I'm not an avid Swiftie per say but I do enjoy most of her music and applaud the legacy she has created for herself. Although I may lack the knowledge to fully grasp the poetic potential of the various poems.

When I was in high school I used to attend poetry readings with my friends. Those were fun times. I even got talked into judging a couple of them. My knowledge was limited then and still is honestly but, I do know what I like when it comes to poetry. Plus, I also learned the valued lesson that "the points are not the point, the point is poetry!".

Overall, there were quite a few poems I really enjoyed but, I think not knowing which songs inspired each poem was a bit of a miss. I think the mystery took away the ability to fully be able to digest the poems. Invisible Stings: 113 Poets Respond To The Songs Of Taylor Swift is an anthology that does require a bit of close reading which I may not have been in the right mindset to do so. Or maybe I was trying too hard to figure out what song the poem could be about instead of just honestly appreciating it. It may have been better enjoyed over a period of time versus the quick short straight read through I did. This may have helped me fully understand the beauty and uniqueness of each of the poems.

This anthology is such a fun and thoughtful tribute to Taylor Swift’s music—it feels like a love letter in poetic form. Each of the 113 poems is inspired by one of her songs, and part of the joy of reading is trying to guess which track sparked which piece. (Heads up: there’s no answer key, which is either charming or mildly infuriating depending on your mood.)

The variety in style, tone, and interpretation really stood out. Some poems hit hard with emotion, while others made me smile or nod in recognition. Like any collection, a few pieces felt stronger than others, but that’s also what makes it so interesting—it’s a mix of perspectives and voices all circling around the same constellation of lyrics.

It’s the kind of book you can dip into or read straight through, and either way, it’ll make you want to pull up a playlist and revisit some of your favorite songs through a new lens.

This book was written for you if:
- You’re a Swiftie who loves Easter eggs and lyrical deep dives.
- You enjoy poetry that feels modern, personal, and a little bit dreamy.
- You want to experience familiar songs in a completely new way.

Star ratings mean different things to different people. I try to use the rating system largely for myself, while also not trying to tank an authors review. I want to look back at my reviews and know what I liked, truly. I caveat that here, because I know this book was not for me. I attempted to give the poetry a show, but this compilation was too varying for me. A portion of the way through I found a site that had decided each poem and the corresponding Taylor song, and that did help me read into each poem better. Before that, my mind had trouble focusing on the content of the poem and what was being said, and instead was just guessing (often incorrectly) the song assigned, not knowing if the poet was writing based on theme, words, etc.

That is all to say, this one was not for me but I am sure that poet enthusiasts that are also Swifties will eat this up.

"Invisible Strings: 113 Poets Respond to the Songs of Taylor Swift," edited by Kristie Frederick Daugherty, is a unique anthology that intertwines contemporary poetry with the lyrical artistry of one of pop music's most celebrated songwriters. This collection invites readers to explore the depth of Taylor Swift's discography through the eyes of 113 distinguished poets, each crafting verses inspired by a specific Swift song without directly quoting her lyrics.

The anthology boasts contributions from a diverse array of poets, including Pulitzer Prize winners Diane Seuss and Yusef Komunyakaa, as well as National Book Critics Circle Award winners Mary Jo Bang and Laura Kasischke. Notably, the 23rd U.S. Poet Laureate, Joy Harjo, also lends her voice to this compilation. These poets bring their unique perspectives and styles, offering readers a rich tapestry of poetic expressions that resonate with the themes prevalent in Swift's music. citeturn0search4

One of the anthology's most engaging aspects is the challenge it presents to readers: discerning which poem corresponds to which Taylor Swift song. This "Easter egg hunt" encourages a deeper engagement with both the poetry and Swift's oeuvre, enhancing the reading experience for fans and poetry enthusiasts alike. citeturn0search1

However, some readers have noted the difficulty in making these connections without an explicit guide. The absence of an answer key means that readers must rely on their knowledge of Swift's work and their interpretive skills, which can be both rewarding and, at times, frustrating. This aspect may pose a challenge for those less familiar with Swift's discography or readers new to poetry analysis. citeturn0search2

Critics have praised the anthology for its innovative concept and the quality of its contributions. Booklist describes it as "meditative, varied, and visceral," highlighting the collection's homage to Swift's "love of words and her deeply felt passions." Publisher's Weekly also lauds the compilation, noting that it serves as an excellent introduction to contemporary American poetry for Swift's fans. citeturn0search3

In conclusion, "Invisible Strings" is a testament to the intersection of popular music and contemporary poetry. It offers readers a fresh perspective on Taylor Swift's songwriting prowess while introducing them to a spectrum of poetic voices. Whether you're a dedicated Swiftie, a poetry aficionado, or a casual reader, this anthology provides an enriching and thought-provoking experience that bridges the worlds of music and literature.

An anthology of brand-new poems inspired by Taylor Swift songs, from a powerhouse group of contemporary poets, including Kate Baer, Maggie Smith, and Joy Harjo.

Let the decoding begin!

With a record-breaking four Grammy awards for Album of the Year, Taylor Swift stands alone in the world of pop music. One of the most talented lyricists of all time, her music captivates millions of fans throughout the globe with the narrative depth and emotional resonance of her songwriting.

In Invisible Strings, poet, professor, and dedicated Swiftie Kristie Frederick Daugherty has brought together 113 contemporary poets, each contributing an original poem that responds to a specific Taylor Swift song.

In a spirit of celebration and collaboration, poets have taken a cue from Swift’s love of dropping clues and puzzles for her fandom to decode, as each poem alludes to a song without using direct lyrics. Swifties will enjoy closely reading each of the poems to discover which song each poet responded to; each poem responds to only one song.

The collection showcases a diverse and accomplished array of writers including the 23rd US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo, Pulitzer Prize winners Diane Seuss, Yusef Komunyakaa, Carl Phillips, Rae Armantrout, Paul Muldoon, and Gregory Pardlo, National Book Critics Circle Award winners Mary Jo Bang and Laura Kasischke, and bestselling poets Maggie Smith, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Kate Baer, amanda lovelace, Tyler Knott Gregson, and Jane Hirshfield.

Swifties will experience the profundity and nuance of Swift’s lyrics through these poems, while having fun matching the poems to songs from all of her eras—vault tracks included! For poetry lovers, this one-of-a-kind anthology is an unparalleled collection of new work from today’s most lauded and revered poets.

I loved the concept of the book when I first heard about it, but was a little hesitant because I don't typically read poetry. I was pleasantly surprised by the whole thing, and while I read through them fairly quickly, I marked down what stuck out to me, and am looking forward to going back and reading them closer and thinking about what songs are for which poems. I do wish the notes from the poets at the end included which songs they had, or that there would have been an addendum listing each one. I like that it didn't tell us in the beginning or as we were reading, but would be nice to have it at the end.

I really enjoyed this and would recommend it to any Swiftie, or anyone who is interested in poetry.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.

4/5

I really enjoy Taylor Swift’s music and was really excited about this collection of poetry especially since there were several poets I recognized on the list. This volume accomplished what it set out to do and I enjoyed the poems included. I do wish we could have known what song was the inspiration for each poem, but I appreciated the outros that were included. I really like that this collection introduced me to some new poets.

As a poetry lover and a big Taylor Swift fan, I couldn’t resist picking up this book, and I’m so glad I did. The tribute to Swift’s work was both deeply emotional and a lot of fun. I especially appreciated the academic analysis at the start, which dove into the symbolism and imagery in her songwriting—it really added another layer to the experience.

Like with any anthology, there were some poems I connected with more than others, but overall, I felt like I could relate to all the poets as fellow Swifties. It was cool to see how her music inspired such a variety of interpretations and voices.

One thing I wasn’t totally sold on was the choice to leave the song that inspired each poem up to the reader to guess. While it was a fun challenge, I found myself wishing I could know for sure if I was on the right track. Still, that’s a minor thing, and it didn’t take away from the enjoyment of the collection overall.

As a swiftie I absolutely loved this, such a neat concept!! Would make an awesome gift for Taylor swift fans

Even Taylor Swift couldn't make me like poetry. Not a reflection on the book or collection, just a personal preference.

English majors and swifties will love this book of poetry! It was really fun trying to figure out which poems related to which Taylor Swift songs. Definitely for fans of the artist but others can resonate as well.

I absolutely loved this! What a cool and unique concept - really enjoyed my time with this book and would recommend to my friends.

I'm not sure what i expected when i received this ARC but perhaps this just wasn't for me. thanks netgalley & the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review

As a poetry reader and Taylor Swift fan, I could not ignore this book any longer. The homage was both emotional and entertaining, I loved that the collection was prefaced by more academically-oriented analysis of Swift’s songwriting, and the symbolisms and imagery used in her poetry.
As expected in any anthology, I was bound to enjoy some poems more than others, but I couldn’t help but connect with all the poets as fellow swifties.
Leaving the reader to figure out which song inspired the poem was a bold choice and maybe left me a bit wanting because of the fact that there was no way to know if I was right, though.

I tried numerous times to read this book and I think I might not like poetry that much. I was so busy trying to Easter egg what Swiftie song it was than I was actually reading the poems. Giving a three because I have to give something.

As a huge swifty I was excited to read this book! I don’t read a ton of poetry, but I do enjoy it occasionally. All of the poems in this collection were well written. My biggest frustration with this book is related to the corresponding songs. I wish there would have either been a list of the songs that are “referenced” even if it didn’t say which poem, it was (I feel like the book should have had this at the bare minimum), the poems and the corresponding song were included before each poem, or some sort of key in the back with all of the answers. I understand the collection creator wanted people to figure them out themselves but with how many songs Taylor has there were some that were very hard to figure out. I’m fairly familiar with Taylor’s discography but there are some songs that I don’t listen to as much. I ended up finding a list someone had published with the corresponding songs, and I found that super helpful. I felt like I got more out of the poems knowing the song beforehand. I do think this is a really fun idea and I still enjoyed it, but it was annoying to have to pause between each poem to check the website.

I like that I’m able to pick this up and just read a few pages at a time. I love Taylor and will read literally anything Taylor coded

As a swiftie of course, this was such a great collection of poetry. I think any fan of Taylor’s pen would enjoy this.

As a Taylor’s fan I loved this so much, one of my favorite things about this is making the lyrics we already love so much even more relatable.