Poetry for Dummies - by The Poetry Center & John Timpane (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Demystify and appreciate the pleasures of poetry

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.

From the Back Cover

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.

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

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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About the Author

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