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On Poetry
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"This is a book for anyone," Glyn Maxwell declares of On Poetry. A guide to the writing of poetry and a defense of the art, it will be especially prized by writers and readers who wish to understand why and how poetic technique matters. When Maxwell states, "With rhyme what matters is the distance between rhymes" or "the line-break is punctuation," he compresses into simpl
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Paperback, 176 pages
Published
November 21st 2016
by Harvard University Press
(first published November 15th 2011)
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Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of On Poetry
Nov 30, 2013
Jim Coughenour
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
poetryforliving,
literary-criticism
Earlier this week I was reading Knausgaard:
poems never opened themselves to me, and that was because I had no "right" to them: they were not for me… they always said: Who do you think you are, coming in here? That was what Osip Mandelstam's poems said, that was what Ezra Pound's poems said, that was what Gottfried Benn's poems said, that was what Johannes Bobrowski's poems said. You had to earn the right to read them. How? It was simple, you opened a book, read, and if the poems opened themselve...more
Dec 17, 2012
Liam Guilar
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
favorites,
criticism-and-theory
There are so many books "About" poetry: how to read, how to write, what not to read, what fashions to follow: books that make ludicrous claims for the power of the poem,books to inoculate the idiot reader against the ideological viruses carried by this or that poem. Books about poetry outsell books of poems.
This one is magical. It does not hide the difficulty of writing a good poem or the pleasures of reading a good one. It gives good advice on both, but in a way that credits readers with enough ...more
This one is magical. It does not hide the difficulty of writing a good poem or the pleasures of reading a good one. It gives good advice on both, but in a way that credits readers with enough ...more
I loved this book: clever, witty, moving and most of all inspiring. I'll feel less alone next time I sit down to write because of it. Recommended for anyone with a love of poetry as a writer and a reader and just the book to encourage a few more people to start reading it.
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This will probably be the best book I read this year. It's fantastic as a polemic, a meditation on teaching, and a celebration of writing and reading poetry. Maxwell does not hide his arguments in jargon or niceties. He comes right out with it: poetry is verse and ought to use meter or rhyme, preferably both. "Prose poetry" is merely prose written by poets. Line break and stanza break are at the heart of poetry. He has a deep love of the English language and its poetic tradition that is infectio
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Worthy and serious observations about the necessary formal qualities of poetry get buried in a determinedly affable jocular/professorial tone addressing a recurring group of cloying workshop students. I dread the day someone writes a Woolf-like stream-of-conscious novel all exploring the "creative" dynamics of a workshop class. Ugh. The book culminates in a workshop-meets-Rime-of-the-Ancient-Mariner that is already soul-suckingly bad. On the bright side, the author quotes hid own play "After Tro
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The style is a bit strange, almost stream of consciousness;my biggest complaint is the heavy emphasis on formal poetry for much of the second half. I understand the historical value for poets to recognize and learn from the formalists, but I didn't expect this focus, given the relaxed approach to poetry at the opening.
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Mar 27, 2018
Natalie Homer
rated it
it was ok
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
nonfiction,
poetry
What insights there are bury themselves in his strange style of writing, which is meandering yet also harsh at points. He makes a lot of “clever” moves, e.g. his faux workshop students and his witty little asides to the reader. Ultimately it became tiresome.
If you read this it will elevate you. Like finally having that inspiring English teacher you wish you'd had.
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Imbued with the same brevity and beauty of a poem, Maxwell's book gorgeously elevates his readers' understanding and appreciation of the hard-fought craft that is true poesie.
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Huge disappointment!
Pointless, boring,
unrelated batch of Maxwell's " ice-breaking"
exercises for his poetry classes.
Not interested!
...pretty much a snooze fest. ...more
Pointless, boring,
unrelated batch of Maxwell's " ice-breaking"
exercises for his poetry classes.
Not interested!
...pretty much a snooze fest. ...more
A writing exercise from Glyn Maxwell:
"Take nine sheets of blank paper and pretend the following things about them:
That the first page is physically hurt by your every word.
That the second page is turned on by every syllable.
That every mark on the third page makes you remember more.
On the fourth, less, like dementia.
That God can only hear you if you're writing on the fifth page.
That only touching the sixth page are you hidden from God.
That every word you write on the seventh prolongs the time fro ...more
"Take nine sheets of blank paper and pretend the following things about them:
That the first page is physically hurt by your every word.
That the second page is turned on by every syllable.
That every mark on the third page makes you remember more.
On the fourth, less, like dementia.
That God can only hear you if you're writing on the fifth page.
That only touching the sixth page are you hidden from God.
That every word you write on the seventh prolongs the time fro ...more
What a delight to read: a book about poetry that inspires you, invigorates you and makes you laugh out loud.
It was like listening to your mad poetry tutor who thankfully has character and a sense of humour. Best of all it made me go back to reread poems I'd not read for years or look for ones I never have. It was beautifully lyrical about the whole business of reading it, writing and imagining it yet unflinching about the work and the discipline to producing those magical forms. Can't wait to re ...more
It was like listening to your mad poetry tutor who thankfully has character and a sense of humour. Best of all it made me go back to reread poems I'd not read for years or look for ones I never have. It was beautifully lyrical about the whole business of reading it, writing and imagining it yet unflinching about the work and the discipline to producing those magical forms. Can't wait to re ...more
Nov 07, 2014
Carol
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
december-2014,
excellent
Totally different from anything I learned in school. In seven chapters, Glyn gives us a "modern" guide for writing poetry. Seven chapters on "white" -- "black" -- "form" -- "pulse" -- "chime" -- "space" -- and "time." He, the poet, explores his belief that the greatest verse arises from a harmony of mind and body. "The sound of form in poetry descended from song, molded by breath, is the sound of that creatures yearning to leave a mark. The meter says tick-tock. The rhyme says remember. The whit
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Slim and slender books are as enticing as thick tomes to me. Slip them in your purse; read them clandestinely. His voice is brilliant, his advice is inspiring without being vague or boring, and he has stuffed the book full of ways to start writing poems. I’m looking forward to collecting all of his teaching books. Also, I hope he writes more about Ollie and the others. His ability to write characters is made clear in his economy and humor. Another skill I'd love to master!
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A lovely series of essays on poetry. Each essay encompasses a particular aspect of poetry: from the black white of the page, to the grouping of words, the form, the spacing. I recommend this to everyone who wishes to learn more about poetry, enjoys reading poetry, and writers as well.
When I was on page 10, I loved this book, in no small part for this quote: "What evolutionary psychologists - and I - believe is that aesthetic preferences, those things we find beautiful, originate not in what renders life delightful or even endurable, but in what makes life possible."
Then I hated it by page 13, when he puts poets on a pedestal above pop musicians. "Songwriters stir up a living tradition, poets make flowers grow in the air." But I continued on, and by the end of the book I real ...more
Then I hated it by page 13, when he puts poets on a pedestal above pop musicians. "Songwriters stir up a living tradition, poets make flowers grow in the air." But I continued on, and by the end of the book I real ...more
This was a mixed book for me. I found it interesting but hard to read; this would possibly benefit from a slow second read and more understanding/knowledge.
As part of my quest to connect to and understand poetry better, I picked up this non-fiction book on the topic.
It’s broken down into short chapters that focus on specific elements of poetry - such as rhyme, form etc - but I just could not get my head around it!
This might be useful for those who want to take an academic approach to poetry but I think I’m going to need a more organic way in.
It’s broken down into short chapters that focus on specific elements of poetry - such as rhyme, form etc - but I just could not get my head around it!
This might be useful for those who want to take an academic approach to poetry but I think I’m going to need a more organic way in.
What a wonderful book on poetry. Glyn Maxwell is that amazing rarity, a poetic critic of poetry. Love for his subject permeates each page: affection for his students (from the Dickinsonite to the postmodernist); poets like Yeats and Thomas; the white and black of poetry itself.
Maxwell is very interesting in his discussion of form and, of course, time. For him, time is what poetry is about; the line-breaks, the breaths, the shape of the poem on the page. And he's right, really. Poems must be sola ...more
Maxwell is very interesting in his discussion of form and, of course, time. For him, time is what poetry is about; the line-breaks, the breaths, the shape of the poem on the page. And he's right, really. Poems must be sola ...more
I really enjoyed (and took notes on, and agreed with much of) the first 5 chapters. But 6 and 7 bored me, and both felt self-indulgent, so I ended this feeling disappointed. I could hear Maxwell's cleverness in his prose (okay), but the cleverness in his poetry was simply irritating. A mixed bag, but the first two chapters are superb ("White" and "Black").
2nd review: I read this again because I forgot I had read it already, and bought a copy. My overall former review stands, though I must say I ...more
2nd review: I read this again because I forgot I had read it already, and bought a copy. My overall former review stands, though I must say I ...more
May 12, 2017
Toby
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
5-star-books,
poetry-drama
The first chapter left me feeling a little ambivalent. Wasn't the author just a little bit too jokey? Trying just that little bit too hard? Was the remainder of this short book going to be read with me biting my tongue at the rather annoying companion and guide?
But no, mid-way through the second chapter I had been won over and this book - part essay, part exploration, part sturdy defence of form and assault on historical amnesia - had me thoroughly in its thrall. Maxwell's style may not be for e ...more
But no, mid-way through the second chapter I had been won over and this book - part essay, part exploration, part sturdy defence of form and assault on historical amnesia - had me thoroughly in its thrall. Maxwell's style may not be for e ...more
Maxwell discusses poems on a spiritual level and explaining with different examples from poets who have lasted through time. If you want to learn about poetry read this book. If you want to learn about poetry read more poems.
"Songs are strung upon sounds, poems upon silence. Songwriters stir up a living tradition, poets make flowers grow in air."
"Dickinson's are slight and skeletal against the white, like the bones of birds"
"We will know what 'free' verse means when we learn if it can survive"
...more
"Songs are strung upon sounds, poems upon silence. Songwriters stir up a living tradition, poets make flowers grow in air."
"Dickinson's are slight and skeletal against the white, like the bones of birds"
"We will know what 'free' verse means when we learn if it can survive"
...more
This book, and Glyn Maxwell's fiction sibling to it "Drinks with Dead Poets" are the books that broke my GoodReads. I so looked forward to reading them and schemed with my library's hold system to get them together. I have never been so dissapointed in my life. They read like drunken mush. Could anyone point me to some real books about poetry please?
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maxwell writes a beautiful book that revels in what makes poetry and what makes a poet. at times, the language gets a bit in the way of language. still, he never loses sight of the thing itself. worth visiting and revisiting.
In this beautiful book, Glyn Maxwell's makes a passionate case for the importance of form in poetry. It is a deeply philosophical work, told through a series of essays that mix seriousness with delightful bursts of humor. Quite simply, it is a gorgeous read.
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Accessible, unpretentious, enlightening. The explanation of an imaginary creative writing class was an unnecessary device though and became a bit repetitive.
Jan 14, 2015
Mugren Ohaly
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
college-reading,
2015
A good book for anyone interested in writing, or even reading, poetry.
If I could, I would give this 10 stars. It's fantastic.
...more
As I read more and more poetry, I began toying with the idea of trying to write it as well. Not really knowing where to start though, I asked a friend of mine - who actually is a poet - if she could recommend some books that might help me. Glyn Maxwell's On Poetry was one of the first she suggested.
To be honest, I expected it to be on the dry and informational side, but it wound up pleasantly surprising me and actually being a lot of fun to read. I did not account for Maxwell's charisma and his ...more
To be honest, I expected it to be on the dry and informational side, but it wound up pleasantly surprising me and actually being a lot of fun to read. I did not account for Maxwell's charisma and his ...more
Nov 22, 2020
Dani Dányi
rated it
did not like it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
did-not-finish
Quite disappointed, though that might be due to artistic differences as much as over-high expectations. Anyway, this book seems to work for many people, and I kind of intuit how that goes. Maxwell lost me on several points, none of which would in itself alienate me as far as to abandon the book altogether, but this combo did the trick: his style is bewildering, some of his basic arguments are fundamentally flawed (or alternatively, are personal opinions of his posing, mistakenly, as fact), and h
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Glyn Maxwell is a poet and playwright. He has also written novels, opera libretti, screenplay and criticism.
His nine volumes of poetry include The Breakage, Hide Now, and Pluto, all of which were shortlisted for either the Forward or T. S. Eliot Prizes, and The Nerve, which won the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize. He was one of the original ‘New Generation Poets’ in 1993, along with Simon Armitage, ...more
His nine volumes of poetry include The Breakage, Hide Now, and Pluto, all of which were shortlisted for either the Forward or T. S. Eliot Prizes, and The Nerve, which won the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize. He was one of the original ‘New Generation Poets’ in 1993, along with Simon Armitage, ...more
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