Steve Kowit (1938–2015)

I have read through this book several times. It gets to the heart of poetry while still teaching/exploring the techniques of poetry. It gives a great description of the types of poetry.

I recommend it to any poet.

This was one of the texts from a poetry class that I took in college. I the class and enjoyed the book. I have tried a few other poetry writing guides since then, but have liked none so well as this.

Steve Kowit's collection has a sense of humor and play, with its share of serious meditations. Several instances of metapoetry are joined by straight narratives on topics such as Chile, "The Lost Girls of Malibu", the love of dogs, and the inevitability of aging. Some ventures jump off the page more than others, but at it's best, this collection revels in the joy and fragility of human life. "A Betrayal" and "A Mania" are two poems that grab at the air in your lungs upon their completion.

A wonderful find! I first saw a copy in a Singapore bookstore, and have been returning to it time and time again ever since. This book will satisfy poets at any stage, from the beginning to the advanced writer, and the exercises will challenge them to dig more out of the ideas they may already have on the page. Highly recommmended.