In Writing Poetry ? a practical guide, Julia Casterton draws on her experience as a poet and teacher of poetry to provide a step-by-step guide through the fascinating world of poems. She takes the reader from earliest times up to the present, from Japan, the Middle East, Europe and America, through most of the major poetic forms, charting how poetry has changed under the pressures of different historical, social and political conditions. Chapters on the different genres of poetry- nature, love, war and cities · Explains forms, metres, textures, melodies, timbres and rhymes · Quotes and extracts from ancestral, historical and contemporary poets · Advice on discovering your own unique poetic voice · Exercises to encourage new ideas and build confidence · Tips on sharing your poetry in print and in person
