Poetry for Dummies (For Dummies)

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 shooting down the spine and lightning 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 poetry 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.

The complete guide to the world of poetry — from sonnets to spoken word!

"Poetry For Dummies will help you understand, appreciate, and write poetry. This book is filled with hands-on exercises to get your creative juices flowing and smart tips on getting your poems published.

A guide to reading, writing and appreciating poetry - the fun and easy way. Advice is given on how to polish and submit work to journals and literary publications, and a list of the best publications for first-time poets is included.

"Wonderful.... This book demystifies poetry for all." —Lawrence Ferlinghetti, poet & painter, and co-founder of City Lights Books

Praise for Poetry For Dummies "Poetry For Dummies is a pleasant romp...with tons of information, informally and intelligently presented.... A fine introduction to poetry." —Willis Barnstone, author of Sappho: A New Translation and Algebra of Night

"Amaze and delight your friends at coffee houses or cocktail parties! Nobody who reads this welcoming and enlightening introduction to poetry from Sappho to slams will be a dummy about poetry anymore." —Ed Taylor, Executive Director, just buffalo literary center

Get expert tips on writing your own poems

Understand and appreciate the pleasures of poetry Can't tell the difference between an iamb and a trochee? Don't worry! This friendly guide demystifies all that complicated jargon and explains how to truly enjoy poetry. The authors walk you through poetry's history, show you where to find exciting contemporary readings, and provide easy exercises to stimulate your own poetic juices.

Discover how to: Understand the language and forms of poetry Interpret a poem's possible meanings Get a handle on poetry through the ages Find poetry readings near you Write your own poems

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Includes bibliographical references (p. [273]-286) and index.

The Poetry Center in San Francisco sponsors readings and awards and houses a renowned poetry archive. John Timpane, Ph.D., is the author of It Could Be Verse: Anybody's Guide to Poetry. Maureen Watts is a writer and longtime poetry activist who serves on the board of the National Poetry Association

Introduction.

About This Book.

How This Book Is Organized.

Part I: Reading and Understanding Poetry.

Part II: In the Beginning Was a Poem.

Part III: Writing Poetry: A Guide for Aspiring Poets.

Part IV: The Part of Tens.

Part V: Appendixes.

Icons Used in This Book.

Where to Go from Here.

Part I: Reading and Understanding Poetry.

Chapter 1: Poetry 101.

Chapter 2: Subject, Tone, and Narrative.

Chapter 3: Tuning In to Language.

Chapter 4: The Art of Interpretation.

Chapter 5: Connecting with Poems from the Past.

Part II: In the Beginning Was a Poem.

Chapter 6: An Intelligent Hustle through Poetic History: From the Earliest Poetry to the 1700s.

Chapter 7: An Intelligent Hustle through Poetic History: The 19th Century to the Present.

Chapter 8: Calling the Muse.

Chapter 9: Writing Open-Form Poetry.

Chapter 10: Working with Traditional Forms of Verse.

Chapter 11: Putting Pen to Paper: Writing Exercises for Poets.

Chapter 12: Going Public with Your Poetry.

Chapter 13: Getting Published.

Part IV: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 14: Ten Myths about Poets and Poetry.

Chapter 15: Ten Poems Worth Memorizing.

Chapter 16: Ten Love Poems.

Part V: Appendixes.

Appendix A: Glossary.

Appendix B: Poetry Timeline.

Appendix C: Resources.

Permissions.

Index.

Book Registration Information.