Forms of Poetry

[Eagle Song]

There seems to be a glaring lack of info about forms of poetry here (if it is to be found, then just point me in the right direction). Can anyboby give a general overview of the major forms?

Thanks
EAGLE SONG
MC

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"Jesus can you take the time to throw a drowning man a line?"

Bono

[JohnBoddie]

There are many books on the market (or in your local library) that provide both explanations and examples of Western and Eastern forms.

For Western Forms, I recommend "The Making of a Poem" by Stand and Boland.

Information about forms can also be found on the internet using most of the popular search engines.

JB

[Eagle Song]

Thanks for the recommendation JB. I'll take a look at it.

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"Jesus can you take the time to throw a drowning man a line?"

Bono

[Howard Miller]

Lewis Turco's "The New Book of Forms" is close to biblical for formalist poets.

Howard

[Mandolin]

New edition of Turco's book has the old title: The Book of Forms.

[Howard Miller]

Mandolin (or anyone else)--

Any idea of how substantively different Turco's 3rd Ed. is from the 2nd?

Howard

[Mandolin]

I've never seen the 2nd -- I have the first. The difference between first and third is several new entries and about 200 pages of explication and advice. I personally prefer the first, which consists almost entirely of schemas for forms, arranged in alphabetical order. But it's hard to find.

[Howard Miller]

Thanks; that helps. The 2nd has about 100 pp. of introductory information on basic elements like meter, sound, and so on, then lists about 300 forms. Sounds like the 3rd isn't much different.

I liked the 1st, too, but a "friend" "borrowed" it almost 30 years ago, not long after it was published. He'll probably return it at the same time he returns my Nehru jacket he "borrowed," as well.

Howard

[Eagle Song]

Thanks Howard and Mandolin.
I toddle off to the library at the weekend to look for them.
http://www.everypoet.com/poetry/poetry_forums/biggrin.gif

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"Jesus can you take the time to throw a drowning man a line?"

Bono

[clive]

While you're there, Eagle Song, look out for John Hollander's "Rhyme's Reason" and Francis Stillman's "The Poet's Manual and Rhyming Dictionary" - these, plus the Turco book, are my Bible, Koran and Bhagavad Gita. Good luck,

Clive

[chilla]

"Thirteen Ways of Looking For a Poem" by Wendy Bishop is a nice gently kick off to using forms of all types. I love the title ... a pun on Wallace Stevens poem "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Bird."

[Eagle Song]

Ok, I don't have enough money to buy all these books. But thanks for taking the time to recommend them. http://www.everypoet.com/poetry/poetry_forums/smile.gif

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"Jesus can you take the time to throw a drowning man a line?"

Bono