Waxing Poetic

If you aren't a reader of poetry and haven't read any poets in a while, look up nature lover Mary Gordon or Louisiana's adopted poet Julie Kane. See www.swamplily.com for a great interview with Kane.

I like poetry and occasionally dabble at writing it, but I haven't any training in the forms and restrictions, and I have a conviction that bad poetry is more embarassing than bad prose.

Especially for the writer, poetry offers more than personal pleasure.  It teaches economy of words and the distillation of an idea to its most evocative expression, good things to strive for in any writing.

Next time, instead of beach fiction, pick up a book of poems and enjoy.

N