Handbook of Poetic Forms

by Ron Padgett (Editor)

A reference guide to various forms of poetry with entries arranged in alphabetical order. Each entry defines the form and gives its history, examples, and suggestions for usage.

Genres: Poetry, Writing, Nonfiction, Reference, Crafts, Education, How To

230 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Ron Padgett is a poet and translator whose Collected Poems won the William Carlos Williams Award from the Poetry Society of America and the 2014 Los Angeles Times Prize for the best poetry book. Padgett has translated the poetry of Apollinaire, Pierre Reverdy, Valery Larbaud, and Blaise Cendrars.

Reviews

[Alarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Bloodorange · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gem - very accessible without being dumbed down. Numerous examples. The author talks students through poetic forms in a friendly, non-patronizing way.

[Chris]

Not sure this is the kind of book a person ever "finishes", but it is a wonderful collection of traditional and non-traditional forms that was invaluable to me when my school district still believed that Creative Writing was a thing that deserves the kind of support one demonstrates with cash money: you know, the halcyon days before the Texas legislature decided that public education is a system that thrives only when it is lightly funded and heavily tested and diminished by a lie about choice that enables them to pull money from public coffers and tuck it into the pockets of their charter-school-advocating cronies and I know I'm way the hell off topic but I don't think Ron Padgett--who seems in all things to be a badass and a wonderful human being--would begrudge me the tangent.

[Aaron A · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Teachers & Writers Handbook of Poetic Forms may seem like a textbook at first. However as the pages flip, you start to feel the humor, grief, or the feeling of being lovestruck when you interpret the examples of poems in this book. This book is a gateway to anyone's freedom of expression as you learn to give birth to poems of truth and any choice of persona. This book even explains many poems' history and characteristics that make them unique, compared to others.

One notable fact is that this book is at the bridge between a textbook and a story. It's like a textbook, but contains a thousand stories.

I can certainly say that I really enjoy the topic, which is poetry. But, I can't lie and say I loved the poetry more than the history and definition of each poem. Honestly, this book starts out being a stranger, but you begin to be attached as you start to fall in love with this work of text.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most accessible textbook, concise descriptions and illuminating examples that covers a breadth of forms and especially helpful is guide words to other related forms attached to each one.

[mmmm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so glad I had purchased this book a couple of days before being asked to teach a poetry class for the first time!

[Thomas Cannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple, but not skimpy dictionary of the different types of poetry. I learned more about the forms I knew about while learning some new ones. This book inspired me to try some new forms of poetry!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book. It has sections on poetry forms in general as well as chapters on specific types of poems; Bouts-Rimes, Tercets, Sestinas, etc...

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in poetry - for both aspiring poets and all those who just like to read poetry. Everyone who appreciates poetry can learn things from this book

[Anselm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good to teach from - though it helps to just give the kids a loose choice of what to use (or it helps me, I mean). Beware, though, when someone is giving a reading and suddenly whips out all the poems they claim to have written while reading the handbook of forms. Ack.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good resource for form. I don't have many to compare it to, but this one's to the point, alphabetized by type and cross-referenced with other forms that are similar, and occasionally provides one or more examples.

[Rude E · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful look at poetical forms written by a prime poet of various form himself..great for teachers and students of the craft.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I often use this book as a resource when I teach my creative writing class.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for any poets out there. I always come back to this book when I'm in the mood for some poetry.

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent collection especially for teachers of writing.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

My go-to source for many poetry lessons. Makes poetry fun for kids while offering a high level of challenge.

[Candace · Rating 3 out of 5]

A handy dictionary of poetic forms complete with examples.

[Mary Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and informative.

[Joseph Spence Sr · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book of poetry forms. I use it all the time while writing poems. It's a great reference tool. I love it.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great tool for the poet's toolbox.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great reference book recommended by my first poetry teacher.