> Poetics, Tools & Criticism

Poetry Tools (10) Reviews & Essays (19) Journals & Reviews (15)

A Poet’s Ideal Library
Categorized lists of the books a poet should own, essentials and oddities, compiled by Jim Finnegan from titles suggested by the poets on the NewPoetry email discussion list.

Orality & Literacy: The Technologizing of the Word
Bob Holman reviews Walter J. Ong's analysis of the oral tradition and how writing changed human society and consciousness: Orality & Literacy: The Technologizing of the Word (Routledge, 1988) -- 'The perfect gift for the grapholect in your life.'

HipHop, Performance Poetry, Spoken Word, Slam
Definitions of 'open mic,' 'poetry slam,' 'spoken word,' 'performance poetry,' 'poetry,' 'hiphop' & 'rap' from Eman, 16-year-old poet & host of two weekly open mics. 'If you’re looking for the definitions of the New Poetry, she’s the one to ask.'

Robert Pinsky’s The Sounds of Poetry
A review of Pinsky’s primer by Bob Holman: “What’s important is... the book’s dedication to poetry as a spoken art.”

Books on poetry, poetic traditions, writing, performance & poetics
When you want to think about poetry's place in human culture & history, or you want to write some poetry of your own & know what you are doing, you'll find useful starting points & rich ideas in these books about poetry recommended by your guides.

Index of Poetics Articles
An index of previous About Poetry feature articles on poetics, poetic forms, poetry schools, principles & techniques.