Fooling with Words: A Celebration of Poets and Their Craft

by Bill Moyers

Book Overview

Fooling with Words is an intimate, inspirational celebration of language in its most exalted form and of the importance of poetry in our lives today. In dozens of poems and a series of fascinating conversations with poets of all stripes gathered for the acclaimed Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival, Fooling with Words brings poetry to life for the reader.

Bill Moyers has been covering the poetry beat for more than a decade, and in the fall of 1998...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0688173462
• ISBN13: 9780688173463
• Release Date: September 1999
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.0" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

A Jewel of Words for Writers and Poets!

Having waded thru Bill Moyers' TV series on Genesis - A Living Conversation and Joseph Campbell Interviews on Myth, I relate to him keenly as following his fame as Presidential Press Agent!In his lengthy series on Genesis, exposing us to Prof Armstrong, Prof Brueggemann, scholars, rabbis, and pastors, all who spoke from their knowledge of Biblical Life. On reading, then placing the jewel back on the shelf...picking it up for a deeper reading each time, I decided it was worthy of far more attention.His dedication to his Wife and Co-writer Judith, renewed my love for W.B. Yeats Poem of her "moments of glad grace..." Bringing me back to true depths of reading poetry aloud! Reminding me of hearing the Prison Inmates request within their therapy groups: "Chaplain, what do those profound words of poetry mean?" Bill Moyers addresses this question in satisfying ways! That may well have grown out of his training as a pastor. For my read his interview with 90-yr old, Stanley Kunitz began with, "What do you love most?" A super reply, "Most of all, I love being alive!" For a poet who kept publishing his poetry at 90, he gave Bill his inner and out response by reading aloud two of his favorites: "The Round" about his seaside garden on the Cape which he created out of a barren sandhill "my little Eden." Then he provided reminders of his early, most famous poem that one reviewer, an English professor called the greatest poem she ever knew, read or studied: "The Touch" which he read aloud. He was floored by audience reponse from the Dodge Poetry Festival, with cheers, whistles, applause, shouts of "Bravo! Bravo!" From ten other poets, only Jane Hirchfield was familiar. As Moyers asked for her comments on Zen meditation, she reminded me of a little gem by Anthony deMello, titled simply - "AWARENESS." She gave her words of meditation practice also simply developing an awareness to this moment; "As if you were to sit very quietly in the woods to be translucently awake." (like mind-fulness) All in all, it speaks to me like another Bill Moyers Jewel! Retired Chaplain Fred W. Hood

Bill Moyers is a National Treasure!!!!

As an English teacher, I already love reading books on poetry anyway, but Bill Moyers is such an amazing interviewer (as any viewer of his amazing NOW show on PBS already knows) that he brings out elements of the poems and the poets that make the reading more profound. I discovered some great poets I was not previously familiar with (Coleman Barks, Lorna Cervantes) and was thrilled to see Stanley Kunitz discuss one of the most riveting poems ever put to paper, "Touch Me." If you have not read this poem, go online immediately and check this one out. Kunitz is in his 90's, but is an inspiration to all by the vitality he exudes in his life and in his poetry. Including "Touch Me" in the book would have guaranteed 5 stars from me alone, but the other worthy additions make this a great read even for a casual lover of poetry.

What a GREAT book!

Hi, I am someone who has loved English Literature, and struggled with it during the high school years, as English was not my mother tongue. Poetry was always the hardest to grasp. I've always wished I could get to know it better, but I've felt the high barriers time and again. Over time, I began to distance myself from Poetry and secretly hated The Art. Until this book that is! =o) Bill Moyers is such a wonderful guide to this Difficult Land - he makes it accessible, and helps me to understand and better appreciate contemporary poetry. Each chapter is based on an interview with a certain poet. He starts off by describing each individual; how he or she looks, acts, and what type of influence(response) they have on the audience. It is like meeting someone in real life. Then the interview unfolds into a discussion about what the poet's life is like, how they began to write, and what their main themes are. But the virtue of this book lies in that the book doesn't stop at being a gossipy interview. It remains focused on getting to know their poems. Each chapter is punched in by several poems and the poet explains them, which is just so much better than the Cliff's Notes! Bill Moyers writes so beautifully, and with ease - I read this book in the subway during my commute. This is certainly a book to have for the leaves-falling autumn.

Thoroughly Enjoyable

This book was my first exposure to contemporary poetry. Its format is excellent giving insight into the composition process that the poet goes through. I liked the book so much I am buying a second copy to give as a gift.

Great, easy reading

This is one of the better poetry books I have ever read. It's very converstional, and the interviews/discussions with the poets is really great. The poetry is really what blows me away. Insightful, interesting, yet not impossible to understand. I combination that sadly isn't found often.