Kalinda

Hey, I really like writing poetry, though I don't really know many of the conventions when it comes to structure and things like that, but the thing that I find is that I can never find any modern poetry to look at, in books I only ever find all the Shakespearian stuff, and though it's good I find it really taxing to go through. I was wondering if anyone could suggest places I could find more modern poetry and any advice about how poetry is traditionally structured
Thanx

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Kalinda

journyman161

Um... here?

I'd look around the forums for 2 things; direct answers to your questions re structure etc & also for links where members have posted in answer to other questions.

Also, if you want books, try the 2nd hand bookshops; they usually have poetry sections.

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Penelope

All - and I do mean all of the knowledge I've gotten about writing poetry has come from the internet. When I logged onto a writers' site in the spring of 2003 I saw a villanelle and thought .. oooo! what's that? I went and did some research, found some modern examples and wrote one myself. It's been the same way for all of the poetry I write. I didn't have a clue what I was capable of - other than writing rhyming couplets - until I got into the net. Now I write - villanelles - sonnets - pantoums - kyrielles - cinquains - haiku - etc.. etc.. etc... The rest I've picked up from poetry books friends have given me as presents. There is so much information out there I'm surprised you are having a problem.

mammamaia

kalinda...
googling will turn up a raft of modern poets... i'm a full time poet myself [along with several other things], so to see a vast array of types, forms, subject matter, you can also browse the work on my site...

and if you want any help, i mentor lots of budding poets...

love and hugs, maia

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barefootwriter

For modern poetry, try Poetry Daily at http://www.poems.com/ . You'll find the real deal there, with folks like Billy Collins and Carl Dennis.

Also try the Academy of American Poets, at http://www.poets.org/. They have poems posted on the site, as well as fairly active forums.

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