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Hi Rachel,

I’m a poet too!

I used to write exclusively more or less strict verse, but now I find myself mostly writing free verse story poems and dabbling in other styles. I’m working on getting meter down. I know how to get line syllables and rhyme schemes to add up though.

I started writing poetry in the form of cards for my parents on birthdays because I was too young to buy cards for them. In high school and college, I wrote poetry as a kind of therapy when I was upset. Even now, I don’t tend to write when I’m happy.

As for good poetry volumes I’ve read lately, I’d highly recommend Billy Collins’ “Sailing Alone Around the Room” or T. S. Eliot’s “Four Quartets”. I’m currently digging into the works of my state’s (Iowa) poet laureates’ works, Ted Kooser’s poetry, and Tracy K. Smith’s poetry.

As for books about poetry, I’ve enjoyed Dorianne Laux’s “Poet’s Companion” for encouraging me to get out of my comfort zone with different writing prompts and challenges. Mary Ruefle’s “Madness, Rack, and Honey” explains the mentality and philosophy of poetry pretty well. It’s a little out there, but I enjoyed it and was able to get a few golden nuggets from it. I’m reading and enjoying Mary Oliver’s “Rules for the Dance” right now. In it, she explains how to write verse using a combination of stories, poems, and little bits of textbook style teaching. I’ve found that instructional books are helpful in moderation, but my poetry flourishes when I balance instruction with practicing writing and revising my work with fellow poets.

I’m really looking forward to seeing others’ work and encouraging them in their art. Cheers!

Sincerely,

Sir Leeds