Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #45281 in Books
• Published on: 1997-10-13
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

From Library Journal
The many books about how to write poetry often fail because they stress structure and technique, contributing to the assumption that you can't teach anyone to be a poet. Fox takes a different approach. A certified poetry therapist, he uses poetry as a mode of healing. Fox works with children, seniors, people in life transition or suffering life-threatening illness, and others. Clearly, he succeeds. His work shows the aspiring poet how to give birth to poetry and how to cultivate and harvest its value to the writer's healing process. Despite Fox's emphasis on poetry as therapy, the student poems are full of fresh expressions and exciting images. Writing of her son, a woman says, "Adam holds the belly of his new plane,/ the light in his eyes a wingspan of possibility." Among the volume's many strengths are its frequent examples. Excellent exercises are included, as are a list of selected readings and a list of resources for learning more about poetry therapy. Highly recommended for public libraries as well as school and academic libraries where arts therapy is studied or practiced.?Judy Clarence, California State Univ. Lib., Hayward
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Essential book for CPTs and English teachers
I had the opportunity to meet John Fox, and I bought his two books then. I have since given them away and had to buy new copies. I found Poetic Medicine particularly useful when I taught high school English. The exercises helped my students deal with grief (that chapter is the best) and depression, and when I've used it, I have felt much better afterwards.

I think this should be a required book in every English teacher's personal library.

Poetic Medicine
There are many exercises in the book to inspire your poetry and many inspirational quotes. I've read it twice and intend to read again, as each time I read it different exercises and examples appeal to me. There is an exercise where you write down all the words that appeal to you in poems, to remind you to use them in your own works.

Helpful, good book
I"m still working my way through this one, but I'm finding it overall to be helpful... It's a good read, as well, engagingly written and leads me to want to try...