O at the Edges

Musings on poetry, language, perception, numbers, food, and anything else that slips through the cracks.

Edward Hirsch’s How to Read a Poem and Fall in Love with Poetry

Posted on April 6, 2018 by robert okaji

In a nod to National Poetry Month, the Poetry Foundation has posted the first chapter of Edward Hirsch’s superb How to Read a Poem and Fall in Love with Poetry. One of my favorite all-time reads. If you haven’t read this book, dip into the first chapter now.

19 thoughts on “Edward Hirsch’s How to Read a Poem and Fall in Love with Poetry”

Sarah Russell on April 5, 2018 at 3:53 pm said:

What a wonderful introduction for the newbie, and a reminder for us old jaded writers. Thanks, Robert. I hadn’t opened the Poetry Foundation’s post yet today, so I saw it from you first.

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- robert okaji on April 5, 2018 at 4:11 pm said:
  
  I was compelled to share as soon as I saw it!
  
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Elysian Huyz on April 5, 2018 at 5:45 pm said:

Where does a poem come from? The sources of inspiration are many, from reason to a touch of madness.

That makes so much sense. Especially the madness part. lol

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- robert okaji on April 5, 2018 at 8:24 pm said:
  
  Ha!
  
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nananoyz on April 5, 2018 at 6:10 pm said:

Thanks for posting this.

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- robert okaji on April 5, 2018 at 8:24 pm said:
  
  Such a great book!
  
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Fiery K. on April 5, 2018 at 9:40 pm said:

Reblogged this on Kaleidoscope of Faces.

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- robert okaji on April 6, 2018 at 5:48 am said:
  
  Thanks for reblogging!
  
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  - Fiery K. on April 6, 2018 at 9:59 am said:
    
    welcome! i might buy that, and share with my eng professor!
    
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    - robert okaji on April 6, 2018 at 10:29 am said:
      
      It’s well worth the investment!
      
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sillysili on April 6, 2018 at 12:41 am said:

That book is top gasoline. Quite helpful for beginners of the craft.

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- robert okaji on April 6, 2018 at 5:48 am said:
  
  It is, indeed!
  
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Carrie Birde on April 6, 2018 at 8:48 am said:

…I wish I had known about this when my son would insist he hated poetry!

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- robert okaji on April 6, 2018 at 10:30 am said:
  
  I wish it had existed when I was in high school or even during my early years in college.
  
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Cate on April 6, 2018 at 12:33 pm said:

Thanks, Bob! The first chapter looked so promising that I got in line for the entire book at the library.

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- robert okaji on April 6, 2018 at 12:38 pm said:
  
  It’s a wise and wonderful read!
  
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Frank Hudson on April 6, 2018 at 7:30 pm said:

Thanks for the tip on this.

So completely at work that it’s hard to find time to read about the work sometimes. But I must try to at least read the sample chapter. His idea of the “trance poem” and applying it to some by Dickinson seems particularly interesting to me.

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- robert okaji on April 6, 2018 at 7:38 pm said:
  
  And you don’t have to read the book in sequence. I pick it up every now and then and just start reading where the book falls open.
  
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