Poetry Resources

You all know by now what a huge advocate I am for collecting writing resources. When it comes to poetry, there are some special books that will help make you both a better reader and a more well-rounded writer.

Keep in mind that reading and writing poetry require two similar but different skill sets. Some academic types argue that poetry is an intellectual pursuit but that’s hogwash. Poetry is an aesthetic art that uses emotion for paint and language as a canvas. Anyone can appreciate poetry, but studying it on higher levels can help you better appreciate its nuances.

The same is true with poetry writing. Nobody can stop you from sitting down and writing a poem. It will be just as meaningful if it comes straight from your heart as if it comes from years of study. However, observation of poetic technique can bring poetry to unimagined levels. It’s also helpful if your objective is to have your poetry published in print or on any high quality website that features poetry.

I was resistant to reading and studying poetry in school because I wrote it so frequently on my own. But once I gave in and signed up for the courses, my poetry started to blossom in ways I never could have foreseen. Classes, however, aren’t necessary (though they are definitely beneficial if you get a good instructor). A few good books on poetry writing can whittle your skills considerably.

Here are a few of my favorite books on poetry.

Mary Oliver’s A Poetry Handbook is a very simple but comprehensive guide to reading and writing poetry. It’s a perfect introductory text and ideal for folks who have strayed from poetry but feel it’s time to come home. Mary Oliver herself is an acclaimed poet and her tone is friendly and witty and very easy to follow. From the text:

Something that is essential can’t be taught; it can only be given, or earned, or formulated in a manner too mysterious to be picked apart… Whatever can’t be taught, there is a great deal that can, and must, be learned.

The Practice of Poetry is jam packed with some of the best poetry writing exercises ever conceived. In fact, the book is a collection of exercises that were contributed by many different writers and poets. The subtitle reads “Writing Exercises from Poets Who Teach.” Some are designed to call forth the muse, others deal with sound and rhythm, and still more focus on revision. This compilation will stretch and flex your writing muscles and open many new doors that you never knew existed! If you want to write poetry but are at a loss how to begin, this book will get your wheels turning.

Perhaps my all time favorite and definitely my most referenced poetry book is Perrine’s Sound and Sense: An Introduction to Poetry. This book is a delightful and comprehensive romp through the deeper intricacies of poetry. It’s suitable for beginners but it definitely serves as a bridge into more advanced poetry concepts and it features tons of wonderful poems by some of the best known and loved poets of all time, including Maya Angelou, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Langston Hughes, Andrew Marvell, Sylvia Plath, Edgar Allen Poe, Anne Sexton, Shakespeare, and far too many others to list here. Suffice to say, this gem of a book doubles as an anthology of poems.

Speaking of anthologies, I would be remiss if I didn’t close this post by mentioning that anthologies along with literary journals are the best way to start discovering poets and poems that you’ll love. These types of compilations give you a taste for many different styles and genres within poetry. My own favorite is The Norton Anthology of Literature by Women: The Traditions in English, a textbook from my school days. It’s a bit biased in terms of gender but it has some fantastic works, excerpts, and biographies. Norton publishes a lot of fantastic poetry anthologies, which you can check out here.

Enjoy!

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