It’s National Poetry Month! Can you believe that I got my start teaching writing with a class called Poetry Unbound? I was no great poet back in 1996, but I had a youthful enthusiasm and brio that made me want to teach. I used to jump up onto the counter at Capitol Hill Books and recite poetry. I even set myself up in the window to write poems on demand, and have done this on the streets of Denver.
Armed with Mary Oliver’s A Poetry Handbook, I met with my students and encouraged them to find their poetic voice. This book goes way beyond a dry text on poetry. It’s infused with Oliver’s classic voice and deep passion for language.
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