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dmcdonald
New Member

since 2010-10-17

Posts 1

0 posted 2010-10-17 11:11 PM

Hi I know absolutely nothing about poetry. Are there some threads that take someone like me through the ins and outs? I am not interested in writing poetry; I just want to become well versed in the history, famous authors, and different varieties. Thanks!

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

1 posted 2010-10-17 11:50 PM

I think the answers to a lot of your questions are right here at our main site

Learning Poetry From Netpoets.com

I don't know all this that is for sure! I just write what I feel, and call it poetry. Try it!

Bob K
Member Elite

since 2007-11-03

Posts 4208

2 posted 2010-10-18 01:05 AM

     A nice way to start is by reading some.  Garrison Keillor, whose name I fear I may have misspelled, has done an anthology or two of very good modern poems, and they're worth a look.  Many libraries have them and they're available in paper from Amazon and in many bookstores.  If you find authors you like, then you can explore those further by simply reading more stuff and talking about that stuff.

     I haven't seen people here do much talking about poets that way, but there's no reason they wouldn't provoke interest or discussion.  We have writers here who are interested in all sorts of poetry, from australian ballads to deep image free verse.  I haven't seen a lot of discussion of L-A-N-G-U-A-G-E poetry or concrete poetry, but you'd probably find somebody; or at least somebody who might send you someplace.

     Reading is a good place to start, though, as is listening.  There are recordings available of a lot of different poets reading, and some are commercially available.  If you try out the Poetry Magazine web site, you may be able to listen to some folks reading for free.

     Is that any help to you?

     If I get more specific, I'm afraid I'll simply overload you with useless information.

     Best of luck.

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