The Eye of the Poet: Six Views of the Art and Craft of Poetry

by Yusef Komunyakaa, David Citino, Billy Collins

Book Overview

Featuring contributions from widely published and practicing poets who are also experienced teachers and presenters of poetry, The Eye of the Poet: Six Views of the Art and Craft of Poetry provides students and other readers with invaluable practical advice. Ideal for courses in poetry writing and creative writing, it includes six sections written by Billy Collins, Carol Muske, David Baker and Ann Townsend, Yusef Komunyakaa, Maxine Kumin, and David...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195132556
• ISBN13: 9780195132557
• Release Date: June 2001
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

The Aye of the Poet too

These are essays on the craft, process, and thinking of poetry. It's the sort of book that's easy to carry and worth carrying because when you sit down to read it you're happy you have it. There are six essays by seven authors. Two essays are outstanding. The first is by Billy Collins, not really my type of poet in the large picture, but he's accessible, which I think is the goal of the book. He pursues the question of what happens to us when we read a poem and he approaches the possible answers from a variety of points touching on the someplace else-ness of a poem or the way it asks readers to slow down. For me the most memorable essay was by Yusef Komunyakaa and I marked quite a few passages that I will reconsider as I continue writing and planning future classes. I suggest getting a copy, for these two essays alone. However, if you take my recommendation, don't get mad if you find a pedantic essay about meter (that I felt was better presented in other books)or other less than compelling pieces. That said, I think what Citino has done is admirable because we can never have too many books where poets speak to their processes and passions.