A Grain of Poetry: How to Read Contemporary Poems and Make Them A Part of Your Life

by Herbert R. Kohl

Poetry has the power to move and challenge the reader. It can intensify or even celebrate misery, be cynical or wry, or just laugh outright in an outrageous way. Poetry is as serious and antic as life, and yet reading modern poetry can be shocking to our sense of what language is or must be. In A Grain of Poetry, Herbert Kohl presents a series of guideposts to help everyone read poetry and discover those poems that inform and inspire them. In clear, direct language, he covers all of the essential-but often unchartedpaths to understanding form and structure, line breaks and pauses, rhythm and melody, imagery, and recitation. Written by one of the country's leading educators, A Grain of Poetry is a comprehensive and accessible guide for all poets, students, and poetry lovers.

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1999

About the author

Educator best known for his advocacy of progressive alternative education and as the author of more than thirty books on education. He founded the 1960s Open School movement and is credited with coining the term "open classroom."

Reviews

[Elton Furlanetto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tinha esse livro há muitos anos, mas nunca tinha conseguido colocar ele no topo da lista. Agora fui lendo e gostei bastante. Não se trata de um texto acadêmico, mas o autor mostra uma variedade de poemas e poetas bem interessantes e o estilo dele é leve. Queria que meus alunos e alunas lessem no semestre de poesia. Provável que eu ainda vá usar o material, simples, mas efetivo para provocar uma reflexão sobre o interesse da poesia.

[Barbara Sibbald]

If you aspire to read poetry - and understand it more deeply - this book is an entry point that can be read and re-read with greater benefits every time. He charts all the essential paths to understanding poetry including form and structure, line breaks and pauses, rhythm and melody, imagery and recitation. An invaluable guide from a leading educator and award-winning author.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I will read Kohl's book over and over! It did as much to inspire me to write poems as it did to teach me how to read them.