From the nuts and bolts of craft to the sources of inspiration, this book is for anyone who wants to write poetry--and do it well. In this fortuitous collaboration, two spirited poets, themselves teachers of poetry, offer guidance to aspiring beginners and those who have already published. Brief essays on the elements of poetry, technique, and suggested subjects for writing are each followed by distinctive writing exercises. ("Compare an actual family photograph with one that was never taken, but might have been.") The ups and downs of the writing life--including the inevitable visitations of self-doubt and writer's block--are here, along with tips about getting published. A special section contains twenty-minute writing exercises, and valuable appendixes cover further reading and marketing advice. On your own, this book can be your "teacher," while groups, in or out of the classroom, can profit from sharing weekly assignments. Numerous examples of contemporary poetry, chosen for relevance and freshness, illustrate salient points and stimulate the imagination. By calling on their own experience and focusing on living American writers for their models, the authors introduce you to poetry as it is right now.
"We wanted to create a book," say poets Kim Addonizio and Dorianne Laux in their introduction to The Poet's Companion, "that would focus on both craft and process." The book they have created is an impassioned exploration of poetry writing that addresses subject matter, craft, and the writing life. The reigning wisdom is that poets, like other creative writers, should write what they know. "The trick," say the authors, "is to find out what we know, challenge what we know, own what we know, and then give it away in language." Elsewhere they add that, while "as poets, we need to write from our experience ... that experience may be mental, emotional, and imaginative as well as physical."
Addonizio and Laux are lively spokespersons for the poet's life; they pepper their thoughts with well-chosen poems from their contemporaries--including David Bottoms, Jack Gilbert, Linda Gregg, and Jane Kenyon--and they conclude each short chapter with an invigorating collection of ideas for writing. These "ideas" culminate in a terrific section of writing exercises at book's end: write a poem describing "your most acutely embarrassing moment"; "write a poem of praise for an unlikely group of people, things, ideas"; "write a poem about the last time you saw a loved one you lost." I found myself a bit frustrated by the brevity of the discussions (most chapters are under 10 pages) and a bit put off by the first person plural narrative (do Addonizio and Laux really agree on everything they say they agree on?), but these are mere quibbles. This is a fine book indeed. --Jane Steinberg
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
poet's companion:
Some parts of the book were helpful but on the whole I should have saved my purchase price and gone to the Public Library for help.
Excellent Text Book:
This book makes learning to write poetry fun and accessible. The exercises are intelligent, and the author takes a realistic approach to the topic. Let's face it; we all can't, or won't, be Shakespere. Yet we all can enjoy poetry, apart from the baggage that the public school system has inflicted upon us. This book is a step in that right direction.
Thank You!:
Sorry for the late reply- the book came in excellent condition just as promised. It was packaged securely. =)
One of My Favorite Book Partners!:
The Poet's Companion is a well-written, useful and enjoyable book to read and to utilize for reference. The authors have combined their experience and presented tools for the writer and reader of poetry. I especially enjoyed the poet's talking about what they are trying to accomplish as poet's, such as: connecting to the world and learning what it is you want to do with language. There are sections on items such as diction, grammar, forms (delightful!) and revision. I found the best chapter to be... more info
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