Writing and Understanding Poetry for Teachers and Students

Suzanne Keyworth was the advisor for an award winning student magazine at State College of Florida for nearly two decades, and obtained her MA from Hollins University and her MFA from Warren Wilson College. A 6th generation Floridian, she has a chapbook titled When the Distance Closes In as well as a book of poetry, Markers.Cassandra Robison, Ph.D., now Faculty Emeritus, was faculty advisor for the multi- award winning student literary magazine Imprints at the College of Central Florida where she taught Creative Writing, English, and American Literature. Of Swedish heritage, she has two chapbooks titled Leaving the Pony and Tundra Heart.

• Chapter 1 - Some Initial Thoughts on Poets and Poetry, Workshopping Poems, and the Creative ProcessLearning from Master Poets or Masterful PoemsWhat is a Strong Poem?Portfolios: Preserving and Sharing WorkThe Concept of ModelingWelcoming the MuseA Journaling IdeaWorkshopping Advice: Our Hearts in a Safe PlaceSome Helpful Ideas about Workshopping Poems Workshop Guidelines to Share with Participants The Model Exercise: If You Stare At Something Long Enough…Sample Student PoemsChapter 2 - Beyond the Ordinary: Witnessing the World as a PoetTerms Used in This ChapterThe Model PoemThe ExplicationThe Model ExerciseSample Student PoemsChapter 3 - Imagery—Getting to the Heart of ItTerms Used in This ChapterThe Model PoemThe ExplicationExercises for StudentsThe Model ExerciseSample Student PoemChapter 4 - Metaphors and Symbols—Finding and Using Creative AnalogiesTerms Used in This ChapterThe Model Poem The ExplicationExercises for StudentsThe Model ExerciseChapter 5 - Line Endings, Turns, and Epiphanies—More Essentials Elements of Craft Terms Used in This ChapterThe Model Poem The ExplicationExercises for StudentsAlternate Model Poem Alternate Model Exercise Chapter 6 - The Speaker and the Reader: A Dialogue The Model Poem The ExplicationExercises for Students The Modeling Exercise Chapter 7 - Narrative Poetry—Poems that Tell Stories Terms Used in This ChapterThe Model PoemThe ExplicationExercises for Students The Model Exercise Alternate Model Poem The ExplicationAlternate Model Exercise Sample Student PoemsChapter 8 - Communicating Emotional Truths and Avoiding MelodramaTerms Used in This ChapterModel PoemThe ExplicationExercises for Students The Model ExerciseSample Student Poems Chapter 9 - Writing in Other VoicesTerms Used in This ChapterThe Model PoemThe ExplicationExercises for StudentsThe Model ExerciseThe Alternate Model PoemAlternate Model ExerciseSample Student PoemsChapter 10 - Sound Devices Terms Used in This ChapterThe Model PoemThe ExplicationExercises for StudentsThe Model ExerciseSample Student PoemsChapter 11 – Punctuation – A Surprisingly Creative ToolTerms Used in This ChapterThe Model PoemThe ExplicationExercises for StudentsThe Model ExerciseSample Student PoemsChapter 12 – Effective Titles—Hints at ThemeThe Model Poem AThe ExplicationThe Model Poem BThe ExplicationExercises for StudentsThe Model ExerciseSample Student PoemsChapter 13 – Nature as MuseTerms Used in This ChapterThe Model PoemThe ExplicationThe Model ExerciseExercises for StudentsThe Model ExerciseSample Student PoemsChapter 14 - The Prose Poem: A Revelatory FormTerms Used in This ChapterThe Model PoemThe ExplicationModel Poem BThe ExplicationExercises for StudentsThe Model ExerciseAlternate Model ExerciseSample Student PoemsChapter 15 – Writing in Various FormsTerms Used in This ChapterModel SonnetsThe VillanelleModel VillanelleExercises for StudentsThe Model ExerciseSample Student PoemsChapter 16 – Portfolios, Presentations, Aural Modeling, and Syllabi:PortfoliosLiterary MagazinesAural ModelingSyllabi and Other Types of Workshop OrganizationSample SyllabusDisplaying Portfolio SharingAlternate Week 16Alternate Week 17: Celebration & Presentation

I find this text smart in three important ways. First, since many young people think they can write poems worth hearing in spite of the fact they've never listened themselves, it stresses reading from the get-go. Second, it provides poems written by peers of the book's target audience in response to the authors' craft suggestions so students can model on the work of people their own age. Third and most importantly, the creators of this book are not only academics but also poets themselves, so not only can they teach; they personally know what they're doing- all of which makes this book a very fine addition to the genre.