Submitted by Alex Pepple on Tue, 09/01/2009 - 17:32.
The Eratosphere Light Verse Bake-Off is now in full swing. The host, John Whitworth, has chosen a baker's dozen of the best submissions received and is posting them on Eratosphere at the rate of two daily. Don't miss out the fun at the Distinguished Guest forum, here.
John Whitworth is one of those fattish, baldish, backward-looking, provincial poets in which England is so rich (perhaps too rich). His ninth collection, Being the Bad Guy, was published by Peterloo in November 2007. Les Murray likes it. Good on him. You might also consider Writing Poetry published by A & C Black, one of those how-to books; it has run to a second
author: John Whitworth ASIN or ISBN-10: 0713658223 binding: Paperback list price: $12.95 USD amazon price: $12.95 USD
A wonderful, positive, practical handbook packed with advice, exercises, and information. Beginning with what makes poetry, the author describes the different forms, how and what to start writing, finding an audience, and getting published.
ASIN or ISBN-10: 0571140955 binding: Hardcover list price: $21.95 USD amazon price: $21.95
Candidly sexual verse has always thrived in world literature though it is rarely written about. This anthology contains work by men and women which demonstrates humankind's touching, tender, ribald coarse and technically adept explorations of that perenially fascinating subject - sex.