Well, of course! Any English teacher worth her salt would follow up a brilliant book on how to read a poem with an equally wonderful book about how toWell, of course! Any English teacher worth her salt would follow up a brilliant book on how to read a poem with an equally wonderful book about how to write a poem. Runyan's book is, once again, a kind, unassuming invitation to give poetry a try. This very, very gentle introduction would work well for anyone--I'd say seventh or eighth grade or over. I'm well into middle age, and I turned out a couple as a result of this nifty little guide. ...more
It's hard to pull off hilarious poetry without inching toward doggerel. Not that I don't love doggerel, but Perillo has something to say and also leavIt's hard to pull off hilarious poetry without inching toward doggerel. Not that I don't love doggerel, but Perillo has something to say and also leaves you with something to giggle about. Some of her turns of phrase are just brilliant. Comparing her girl scout troop, with their berets and sashes to suicide bombers, for instance. Or the line about a college romance--something a bout yanking the cord to get adulthood started, but not having the choke adjusted yet. Sweet, touching, funny, and at times going to the heart of modern life. ...more
Thoughtful reflections by Judith Valente and Charles Reynard on 20 poems by (mostly) well-known 20th/21st Century poets. The poems are chosen by themeThoughtful reflections by Judith Valente and Charles Reynard on 20 poems by (mostly) well-known 20th/21st Century poets. The poems are chosen by themes--such as simplicity, mystery, loss, work or prayer. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The essays on the poems helped me think more deeply about the work of these poets....more
Not only are some amazing, wonderful poems in this collection, there are also comments from thoughtful people about WHY these poems move them so. The Not only are some amazing, wonderful poems in this collection, there are also comments from thoughtful people about WHY these poems move them so. The Favorite Poem Project is just terrific! A great way to find voices new to you, and to think, not only about the poem itself, but the poetry reading community. Love, love, love this book!...more
What a relief to find a decent book about writing poetry. I didn't think they existed. I appreciate the wide variety of examples in this book, as wellWhat a relief to find a decent book about writing poetry. I didn't think they existed. I appreciate the wide variety of examples in this book, as well as the use of student poems--some of which are pretty darned good! I am still looking for exercises that don't lead me to borrow too much from an already published poet, but I guess there's something to be gained from doing that, maybe? All in all, a great book on how to write poetry, which will have to suffice until my friend Tania Runyan's new book on how to write poems comes out....more
Nobody will ever accuse Ogden Nash of Homeric Dimensions. But he's fun. Many familiar, and some unfamiliar bits of Nash here. Not everything he ever wNobody will ever accuse Ogden Nash of Homeric Dimensions. But he's fun. Many familiar, and some unfamiliar bits of Nash here. Not everything he ever wrote, but a good sampling....more
This is a great reference for blessings, useful in all sorts of situations, for marriage, for dying, for the artist at the start of the day, for the eThis is a great reference for blessings, useful in all sorts of situations, for marriage, for dying, for the artist at the start of the day, for the exhausted, for dozens of different situations. At the end of the book O'Donohue includes several brief essays on the art of blessing. So sad that we lost him so young. He gave us a great deal in his brief life. ...more
Here, a mother struggles with her daughter's autism. It is, at the same time, a gut-wrenching and uplifting collection about the difficulties and blesHere, a mother struggles with her daughter's autism. It is, at the same time, a gut-wrenching and uplifting collection about the difficulties and blessings of raising a child on the spectrum. A lovely book, indeed....more
I find it interesting that so many people who rated this book three stars or less did so because they didn't like haiku. Totally unfair. That's like sI find it interesting that so many people who rated this book three stars or less did so because they didn't like haiku. Totally unfair. That's like saying, "I think I'll read this here book about tarantulas, and then I'll give it one star because I HATE tarantulas." Actually, this is a lovely introduction to haiku and other short form Japanese poetry by masters of the form. Of course it's translated, and something is lost in translation. However, the ideas are still faithfully portrayed. I think Mr. Hass did a great job of communicating the humor, and sometimes the pathos and quiet beauty revealed in the work of these masters....more
As others have pointed out, this book is not Hafiz. It's Ladinsky. Reading it, you'll figure it out pretty quickly. The language is just not in keepinAs others have pointed out, this book is not Hafiz. It's Ladinsky. Reading it, you'll figure it out pretty quickly. The language is just not in keeping with Hafiz. Nice thoughts in many of the poems, though. Just, not Hafiz. If you want the real Hafiz, I would suggest "Hafiz of Shiraz", which is translated by Avery and Heath-Stubbs. 30 poems of the real thing. ...more
This is a wonderful researcher's volume of the Book of Hours. For them, I give this volume five stars. Lots of front matter before the poems explain wThis is a wonderful researcher's volume of the Book of Hours. For them, I give this volume five stars. Lots of front matter before the poems explain who Rilke was, the times he was living in, etc. However, as a volume of poetry, it doesn't work that well. For that, I'd give it three stars. I have this on my Kindle, so that may influence the way it reads, but, at least on Kindle, don't buy this version if you just want to get the overall flavor of the Book of Hours. Each English version of the poem is interspersed with the German original, so you don't get a sense of the flow of the poetry. Too many interruptions. ...more
I come back to these poems again and again. Very rich works that mine the depths of stories about women of the Bible. That may sound like a trite subjI come back to these poems again and again. Very rich works that mine the depths of stories about women of the Bible. That may sound like a trite subject to some, but Runyan breathes life into our contemporary relationships with them. Very, very relevant poetry....more
While we were living through it, it seemed the horrible campaign would never end. But now, in retrospect and in rhyme, Calvin Trillin makes the whole While we were living through it, it seemed the horrible campaign would never end. But now, in retrospect and in rhyme, Calvin Trillin makes the whole thing as hilarious as it really was. Calvin Trillin is the Jon Stewart of doggerel....more
A friend of mine recommended this book to me. It's a publish-as-it's-ordered book, which made me think it was going to come to me as a mimeographed chA friend of mine recommended this book to me. It's a publish-as-it's-ordered book, which made me think it was going to come to me as a mimeographed chapbook or something. But it's a regular, good old, bound book. At first, I was put off a bit. The author reflects on her experiences with her children and relates them to writing (I believe she's mainly a poet). Sort of like object lessons for children in the middle of a church service. You bring in some pedestrian object to show the children, such as a glove, and then say, "This glove is like you without the Holy Spirit", or Noah's ark, or whatever malarky you're going to say it's like. But rather than children's object lessons for Jesus, the object lessons are about writing. I got into it a bit more toward the end of the book. I guess a good supplement to Writing in Restaurants or Naomi Goldberg's stuff....more
So, you've got the poem on paper, but it doesn't quite work? This toolbox will have your poem up and running in no time.So, you've got the poem on paper, but it doesn't quite work? This toolbox will have your poem up and running in no time....more
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