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My first encounter with this poem was as a teenager, listening to Iron Maiden. Who would’ve guessed it would take me nearly 20 years to finally read the full work? Though Kubla Khan remains one of my favourite poems, one I often revisit, I must admit ---with all due respect to my wife’s love of poetry ---that I’m not much of a poetry person. I often find it hard to connect with this medium and wondered if there was something wrong with my brain. That said, perhaps I have a soft spot for adventures in lyrical form, as I adored The Odyssey and The Iliad as a kid.

This particular edition of "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" made it far easier to immerse myself in the sailors' world. The illustrations force you to linger on each scene, inviting you to truly savour every moment. For the ultimate experience, I’d highly recommend pairing it with Iron Maiden’s tune as you read—it adds an epic soundtrack to an already timeless adventure.