In this book of craft essays and exercises, coauthor of The Poet’s Companion and renowned poet Dorianne Laux offers an invitation to poets to practice and engage with the art of poetry. Laux begins by exploring the reasons she writes poetry, and each section after tackles a variety of subjects, including the syllable and the line, form, imagination, and voice. With examples from classic and contemporary poets, as well as approachable prompts and exercises throughout the book, Laux guides poets through the ways in which she practices poetry. “I like moving, word by word, toward a sense of discovery, toward an awareness of self, a curious, energetic, intelligent, humorous, sacred, baffling, heartful self,” writes Laux. “I live for that flaring up of language, when the words actually carry me, envelop me, grip me.”
