alt="The Teachers & Writers Handbook of Poetic Forms" border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net..." />The Teachers & Writers Handbook of Poetic Forms by Ron Padgett

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I own at least one book of poetic forms and have used several. I've also looked up individual forms online. This handbook edited by Ron Padgett is the best I've seen. I understand there can be problems getting permissions to reprint poems. This publisher worked that out. There is nothing more frustrating than reading a dry description of a form and list of rhyme schemes (abba cddc...) with no example to make it come alive.
Padgett's book is better for other reasons, too, not the least of which is that he's an entertaining writer and gifted poet. He earned that fifth star by sharing insights on how to get started writing in a particular form, what sorts of topics or tones the form lends itself to, and lists of writers from ancient times to present who have excelled in each form. If you're a teacher or writer thinking you should buy a form handbook, this is the one.



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