A poet offers a word of thanks.

Kim Addonizio says writing form poetry can teach you economy and structure and take you unexpected places. But what if you have no sense of rhythm? Can you still write a sonnet? Lyla Lindquist wraps up our Ordinary Genius book club this week with enough iambic pentameter to make you scream.

1. “Mama,” my five-year-old calls from the back of the minivan, “can you make up a poem?” “A poem?” I ask. “Yes. A poem about words. A poem that rhymes.” I look out the window. Well, crap. A rhyming poem about words? “It might take me awhile,” I say. “That’s okay, Mama. Whenever you’re ready.” [...]

One of the greatest poets who ever lived worries that his poetry is not good enough

I confessed in my last post that I am a teacher of Poetry. I should also confess that I am a poet, for this condition allows me a second perspective from which to see poems—as writer and reader, as giver and receiver, both. This means that several times a week I sit down with a [...]

Can you see how the poem "The Stolen Child" embodies a struggle to grow up?

While I think it's important to discipline myself to try on the shoes of various poem forms, I understand that personality and brain-wiring somehow play a part.

A good poem does that—offers multiple gifts upon multiple readings.

Lately, I’ve been writing hard, more professionally than years past, which means also a bit more mechanically. Some words are needed, so I crank them out. GoodWordEditing is one of my few places where I can still play. Play is so important. I’ve thought of posts I could write this week: about the 22-30 rule [...]