Poetry for dummies :)

**Rob** · 06-28-2009 04:24 AM

I haven't got much of a clue when it comes to poetry either. What has helped a little, though, is the book by Ruth Padel, 52 Ways Of Looking At A Poem. It's helped because there's some preliminary stuff where she talks about poetry generally, in terms that help a non-poet like me, and then there are 52 poems by various poets, each of which she discusses in reasonable depth (taken from a regular newspaper column she once did).

She's written another book, somewhat similar, that I picked up while I was out yesterday: The Poem And The Journey, 60 Poems For The Journey Of Life. If it's as good as the first, I'm sure it will be helpful to me. Maybe they'd help you, too.

Cheers,
Rob

**Mistique** · 06-28-2009 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by Rob

I haven't got much of a clue when it comes to poetry either. What has helped a little, though, is the book by Ruth Padel, 52 Ways Of Looking At A Poem. It's helped because there's some preliminary stuff where she talks about poetry generally, in terms that help a non-poet like me, and then there are 52 poems by various poets, each of which she discusses in reasonable depth (taken from a regular newspaper column she once did).

She's written another book, somewhat similar, that I picked up while I was out yesterday: The Poem And The Journey, 60 Poems For The Journey Of Life. If it's as good as the first, I'm sure it will be helpful to me. Maybe they'd help you, too.

Cheers,
Rob

Thanks, the first book sounds good. I will have a look

**Baron** · 06-28-2009 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by Rob

I haven't got much of a clue when it comes to poetry either. What has helped a little, though, is the book by Ruth Padel, 52 Ways Of Looking At A Poem. It's helped because there's some preliminary stuff where she talks about poetry generally, in terms that help a non-poet like me, and then there are 52 poems by various poets, each of which she discusses in reasonable depth (taken from a regular newspaper column she once did).

She's written another book, somewhat similar, that I picked up while I was out yesterday: The Poem And The Journey, 60 Poems For The Journey Of Life. If it's as good as the first, I'm sure it will be helpful to me. Maybe they'd help you, too.

Cheers,
Rob

A good call. This website is useful as well:

modern poetry: its writing and appreciation

Free poetry e-books of all types by most well known poets can be downloaded from here:

Free Poetry eBooks e-Books

**Linus** · 07-06-2009 12:40 PM

My advice:
Don't frusturate yourself by trying to write compicated forms of poetry first. (For example, don't try to write a sestina first. Start with a simpler form.) Write something without form, maybe free verse. Don't worry about the mechanics. Then learn more about different forms and mechanics of poetry and try writing something harder. Read lots of poetry from published poets, and especially read the poets that write like you wish to write. And it helps, when trying to master a certain form, like a sonnet, to first read and study some good sonnets.

**Mistique** · 07-06-2009 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by Baron

A good call. This website is useful as well:

modern poetry: its writing and appreciation

Free poetry e-books of all types by most well known poets can be downloaded from here:

Free Poetry eBooks e-Books

Thanks Baron, I will have a look at them

**Mistique** · 07-06-2009 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by Linus

My advice:
Don't frusturate yourself by trying to write compicated forms of poetry first. (For example, don't try to write a sestina first. Start with a simpler form.) Write something without form, maybe free verse. Don't worry about the mechanics. Then learn more about different forms and mechanics of poetry and try writing something harder. Read lots of poetry from published poets, and especially read the poets that write like you wish to write. And it helps, when trying to master a certain form, like a sonnet, to first read and study some good sonnets.

Thank you

I tried free writing and it frustrated me terribly but that's probably because I am a perfectionist and you can't perfect something in one go

or so I have been told

**Mistique** · 07-06-2009 05:33 PM

Well apparently some people do think I have poetic abilities as my elfs, limited as they are, have been published (along with many other's from other writers) in a book

**bambie1984** · 07-16-2009 12:05 PM

To some it comes naturally. Others have to work at it. I started writing when I was 8 and they were really dopey rhymes that I wouldn't show to anyone. I'm 25 now so I have some experience. If you want your writing to be personal, just write it. Worry about form later. Or you might try to do a certain form of poetry as practice. I never concerened myself with perfect rhyme or meter. To this day I haven't figured out exactly what iambic pentameter is. Here's a website that might help: Craft of Poetry

**Baron** · 07-16-2009 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by bambie1984

To some it comes naturally. Others have to work at it. I started writing when I was 8 and they were really dopey rhymes that I wouldn't show to anyone. I'm 25 now so I have some experience. If you want your writing to be personal, just write it. Worry about form later. Or you might try to do a certain form of poetry as practice. I never concerened myself with perfect rhyme or meter. To this day I haven't figured out exactly what iambic pentameter is. Here's a website that might help: Craft of Poetry

Simplistically, iambic pentameter puts the stress on every second syllable/beat.

**Mermaid on the breakwater** · 07-16-2009 12:33 PM

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