Before we are ever introduced to the nitty gritty of meter, rhyme schemes and stanzas we experience the poetic form by reading the work of real women, members of the “Poet Posse,” a group of 14 members (including the author) of all ages, family situations and walks of life. This is the poetry of real women, not necessarily earth-shaking, but meaningful to each writer. One of my favourites, for example, is titled “Ode to Diet Coke” – this is real poetry!
After making the acquaintance of the types of poems, the reader is then introduced to the technical details, the why’s and how’s that make the specific form of poetry unique and identifiable; how to write and execute that particular type of poem. Tips and suggestions on content, how to find subject matter are followed with a brief list of examples from published female poets that will further familiarize budding poets with the form. Each chapter also includes a suggested soundtrack from one of the Posse members that evokes feelings common to the type of poetry being explored.
Each chapter closes with a “Poetic Pause,” with thoughts on how to enjoy and integrate poetry with daily life. These sections include insight into writing poetry while multi-tasking, how to share your work with others and how to read (and possibly understand) poetry written by others.
Unleash the Poem Within provides readers with an exploration into the world of poetry unlike any other. The combination of poetic examples, insight into the lives of the poets, personal reflection and memoir-like moments from the author, tips on how to get started with new forms you’d like to try and general writings surrounding the topic of poetry make this the ideal work for women seeking to awaken their inner poets.
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