1. Introduction
Suppose you invented a way to concentrate all the best things people ever
thought and felt into a very few words. And suppose you did something to those
words to make them pleasant, beautiful, unforgettable, and moving. Suppose
this invention could get people to notice more of their own lives, sharpen their
awareness, pay attention to things they’d never really considered before.
Suppose it could make their lives—and them—better.
You’d really have something there.
Well, don’t look now, but that invention has been around for at least 5,000 years
—probably more. Millions of people love it and make it part of their lives. They
turn to it when they need a smile, a lift, a moment of thoughtfulness. And
millions of people write it, too.
What is this fantastic creation? Poetry. And it includes the work of Homer,
Sappho, Kalidasa, Dante, Shakespeare, Ono no Komachi, Keats, Basho, Byron,
Whitman, Dickinson, Frost, Yeats, Plath, Ginsburg, Amiri Imamu Baraka,
Adrienne Rich, Gerald Stern, Lucille Clifton, and many others. It’s been a great
six millenniums, and we’re starting the seventh in better shape than ever.
Poetry saw a tremendous surge in popularity at the end of the twentieth century
–from poetry magnet mania to the explosion of poetry slams across the country
to an increased public appreciation of poets. And here in the twenty-first
century, poetry continues to win more and more people over. And why not? It’s
great stuff.
We love poetry so much that we wrote this book. Most poets write poems for
anyone who is willing to read and listen. But sometimes between the poet’s
notebook and the listening public a break occurs. Our hope and vision was to
offer a book that might get past the things that sometimes divide poets and
readers, things like technique, style, and school or genre, and the random
distribution of books, poetry books, and journals.
Our job in writing Poetry For Dummies was to bridge the literary gaps and throw
open the doors of poetry—past, present, and future—to all. And, our hope is that
if you, or any of your friends or family, say they “don’t get” poetry or “don’t
like” poetry, this book just might change their minds.
Oh, and one promise: if you let it poetry into your life—if you read aloud and
read attentively, discover how to interpret poetry for yourself—you’ll start seeing
benefits, including a broader life, a more sensitive awareness, and a more flexible
spirit.
If you are a poet or want to try your hand at poetry, welcome to an ancient and
ever-changing craft with many traditions, rewards, and challenges.

2. About This Book
Poetry For Dummies is for everyone. In these pages, we serve as your guides in the
art of reading and interpreting poetry. We hope you will discover poets you
hadn’t heard of or read before, revisit some old favorites, and pick up some
pointers on poetry that will bring you a new understanding and enjoyment of
the art.
Besides being a good introduction to the history of world poetry, Poetry For
Dummies also offers a lot of practical information, too. Not sure of a literary term?
Check our glossary. Looking for poetry on the Web? Our resource guide in the
Appendix will point you in the direction of a few good places to start. Have a
poem you’ve written that you want to get out in to the world? Read the book’s
chapter on “Going Public” for information and tips on how to get out and read
your poem in public or send it out for publication.
The book’s many writing exercises can be used to brush up on writing skills, add
structure to your writing life, and help you break out of a writer’s block. Have a
broken heart and want to write a traditional poem to bring your loved one back?
Check out the section on writing sonnets and traditional forms (we offer no
guarantees, of course). We hope the book inspires you to pick up pen and paper.
Once you start thinking about poetry, you will notice it is all around you. We
give you tips on where to find poetry, where to find poetry readings and other
events, and which journals to pick up if you want to read the latest poetry being
published.
These are just a few of the ways we think readers can make use of this book. The
rest, as they say, is up to you.
How This Book Is Organized
This book does four things at once:
* It introduces you to reading and interpreting poetry.
* It introduces you to writing poetry.
* It tells you about poetry history, movements, and techniques.
* It guides you to good ways to find out more about poetry (organizations
and magazines devoted to poets and poetry, places to see readings, and
Web sites, for example).
This book does have a logical organization, and we invite you to use it. But by all
means, be your own guide. Go straight to the parts you find most interesting.

3. Flip through. See what looks good. If a poem beckons you, stop and read it. We’ll
wait.
If you’re not sure where to begin, start with Chapter 2, which is about reading
poetry aloud. Reading aloud is a skill many people haven’t exercised since they
left grade school. We help you get your reading muscles in shape and ready for
any poem that comes your way. Chapter 2 is good preparation. The following
sections explain how the book is broken down and lets you know what you can
expect to find in each part.
Part I: Reading Poetry: A Poetry-Lover’s
Guide to the Art
What is poetry, anyway? Where does it come from and why is it important? In
this part, we define poetry and discuss where it stands at the beginning of the
twenty-first century. Here you also find a short course on the essential skill of
reading aloud (the best way to get to know poetry).
Part II: The Parts of a Poem
Reading poems is fine. But thinking about what they mean and how the poets got
to that meaning is even better. So in the chapters in this part, we look at how
poems work. We survey the elements that make up poetry, beginning with the
ways poets work with language, including the many varieties of metaphor,
symbol, speaker, and situation. Then we move to subject and tone.
Then we get to talk about interpretation—the best way to get the most out of the
poems you read. Becoming a good interpreter of poetry means paying attention
to what you think, becoming more alert and sensitive, and being very aware of
detail and implication. Yes, it’s details, details, details!
Part III: In the Beginning Was a Poem
In this part, you get to flip through the family photos, so to speak . We figured
you would want a little background on the whole endeavor, so we load
everybody on a bus and roar, tilting from side to side, through a quick tour of the
5,000 years of poetry. It has been an eventful 5,000 years, we can tell you that. The
twentieth century appears in its very own chapter because, well, it was the
Century of Poetry.
In this part, we also take a look at the forms poetry has taken all over the
world—because, after all, not all poetry is written in English.

4. Part IV: Writing Poetry: A Guide For
Aspiring Poets
Everyone is waiting for the next Shakespeare or Emily Dickinson to appear on
the literary horizon. Here we show you a sampling of techniques, good
approaches, and suggest some standards for you to shoot for. Want to submit
your poems for publication? Enter the performance scene? You’ll find some
advice on this, too. The writing exercises collected here should bring out the poet
in just about anyone. Warning: writing poetry can be habit forming.
Part V: The Part of Tens
This book wouldn’t be a …For Dummies book without a Part of Tens. The Part of
Tens in this book gives you: ten myths about poetry (true and untrue), ten lines
of poetry to memorize for life, ten great poems, and ten love poems for you to
read and enjoy. This is a great place to turn if you have just a few minutes here or
there and you want to soak up as much information and poetry as you can. Go to
The Part of Tens for your regular quick poetry fix.
Part VI: Appendixes
In this part you find resources for ways to get even more poetry than you’ll find
in these pages. We list Web sites that specialize in poetry, locations of poetry
centers, and places around the country that offer poetry events of all kinds. We
tell you about the big poetry festivals throughout the country (Cowboy poetry?
You bet!), and steer you toward the magazines and journals that publish poetry.
We also include a brief list of books helpful to readers and especially aspiring
poets.
This part is also where you can find a glossary of literary and poetic terms and a
timeline for the whole history of world poetry. And then we blow kisses, saddle
the mules, cue the organist, and sprint madly around until we melt into the
sunset.
Icons Used in This Book
Throughout the book, you will encounter icons, which are the pictures in the
margin that alert you to a special feature, or a piece of information, advice, or
instruction. They’re meant to help direct you to the indispensable moments, the
absolute honey of the book. We’ll use the following seven icons:

5. <ReadAloud>
This is one icon you see a lot of throughout this book. Whenever we quote a
passage, we mean for you to read it aloud. Poetry is meant to be read aloud for
the best and fullest effect. This is your opportunity to give your voice to poetry.
And if you seize that opportunity, you’ll get the most out of Poetry For Dummies.
<Tip>
When you see this icon, you can count on finding an essential bit of advice that
will make you a better reader, interpreter, or writer of poetry.
<Technical Stuff>
This icon points to historical or technical information of great value. So open up
your brain and get ready to get technical.
<Remember>
Some thoughts are simply essential, such as the sentence, “Poetry is meant to be
read aloud.” Because such sentences appear more than once, we tag them with
this icon so you remember to put them in your brain for keeps.
<Caution>
When you see this icon, you know to avoid the idea or habit it highlights. Or at
least handle the topic gently.
<Bookbag>
This icon alerts you to some sources for some of the greatest poetry in history.
You don’t have to read all these books—but if you’re wondering, “What’s so
great about Homer?” or “Who is this Emily Dickinson anyway?” an excellent
way to find the answer is to sit down and read a few lines. So fill your Bookbag
and fill your mind!
<Muse>
The gal in this icon is Calliope, the Greek muse of poetry and, fittingly enough,
the head of all the muses. She pops up whenever we encounter something truly
inspiring, when you can really see the insight and invigoration of poetry
happening right before your eyes. She looks pretty happy, doesn’t she —almost
as if she’s saying, “Did you see that?”
A Final Word
Poetry is for everyone. Poets write for the world, which, last time we checked, is
where you live. And knowing about poetry can make your world better.
The idea is not to learn it all; nobody ever could. The idea is to get started, to learn
a little about how poetry works, and how writing poetry works, and then blaze
your own path. Think of this book as your first step in forging your very own
personal taste in poetry, or in exploring your own powers as a poet. Talk about
the thrill of beginnings! So what are you waiting for? Turn the page and dive
right in.