Sometimes it seems like there are as many definitions of poetry as there are poems. Coleridge defined poetry as "the best words in the best order." St. Augustine called it "the Devil's wine." For Shelley, poetry was "the record of the best and happiest moments of the happiest and best minds." But no matter how you define it, poetry has exercised a hold upon the hearts and minds of people for more than five millennia. That's because for the attentive reader, poetry has the power to send chills down the spine and lightening bolts flashing in the brain - to throw open the doors of perception and hone our sensibilities to a scalpel's edge.
Poetry For Dummies is a great guide to reading and writing poems, not only for beginners, but for anyone interested in verse. From Homer to Basho, Chaucer to Rumi, Shelley to Ginsberg, it introduces you to poetry's greatest practitioners. It arms you with the tools you need to understand and appreciate poet ry in all its forms, and to explore your own talent as a poet. Discover how to:
Understand poetic language and forms
Interpret poems
Get a handle on poetry through the ages
Find poetry readings near you
Write your own poems
Shop your work around to publishers
Don't know the difference between an iamb and a trochee? Worry not, this friendly guide demystifies the jargon, and it covers a lot more ground besides, including:
Understanding subject, tone, narrative; and poetic language
Mastering the three steps to interpretation
Facing the challenges of older poetry
Exploring 5,000 years of verse, from Mesopotamia to the global village
Writing open-form poetry
Working with traditional forms of verse
Writing exercises for aspiring poets
Getting published
From Sappho to Clark Coolidge, and just about everyone in between, Poetry For Dummies puts you in touch with the greats of modern and ancient poetry. Need guidance on composing a ghazal, a tanka, a sestina, or a psalm? This is the book for you.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
a solid overview of poetry for any level!:
As an English teacher I am not proud to say that poetry is not my favorite area of my subject. There are so many different aspects, styles, and genres of writing that I am so much more familar with but this book helped me build a strong foundation of knowledge in the area of poetry. It also served as a concise overview of poetry when studying for my state content exams. I needed something to help guide and provide me with clear and concise answers and explanations surrounding the various forms and contexts... more info
Don't know a Haiku from an Achoo? This Book's for You!:
A few years ago I got in touch with my talent for writing poetry, and this book was one of the first I bought as a way to learn more about the variety of ways to write the little darlings. An informative introduction to the writing of poetry for anyone who wants to try their own hand at it. Easy to understand, detailed, and just plain fun to read.
"poetry for those who are severely retarded," would have been a better title.:
i recently decided to have a go at the world of poetry. so i armed myself with a half-dozen, or so, books on the subject. this was one of them. I am a dummy. I am not retarded beyond hope, as the dummies who put this crappy book together seem to think. i bought it based on a blurb on the front cover by lawrence ferlinghetti, who i have heard is a highly regarded poet. I do not know what is going on here, but mr ferlinghetti should be ashamed of himself, calling this book "wonderful." let me share with you... more info
A great read:
The authors have a gift for writing good simple prose as well as good poetry. Like others I had my doubts about this book but it was a surprise. It was so well written that I found it hard to put down. I've read it many times but still have it close by to aid me in my poetic jottings. What I liked best was their style of writing, very hip and trendy. It brings poetry into the 21st century.
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