Writing the Life Poetic: An Invitation to Read and Write Poetry by Sage Cohen

A review for WRITING THE LIFE POETIC: AN INVITATION TO READ & WRITE POETRY, by Sage Cohen.by Anonymous

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November 06, 2009: Sage Cohen extends a gracious invitation to join her in Writing The Life Poetic.

She welcomes us to that metaphorical clearing in the woods, or to walk along a shell filled shore, buoyed along by her gentle nudging. Through her well-placed poetic examples and her personal yet all inclusive tone, she nurtures a "poetic state of mind." She urges us to find poetry along the way; dares us to reshape our lives in order to do so. She prompts us to see snippets of poetry along life's paths hanging bountiful like pear-laden trees. She challenges her readers to "infuse your muse." She extracts poetry from its lofty chandelier opulence and presents it at eye level where everyone can see, taste, hear, touch and inhale the poetic life. She calls us to be the vessel for the word as we strike out on our own journeys.

Kim Klugh

Learn to Live (Not Just Write) A More Poetic Lifeby thenightwriter

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August 13, 2009: The first thing I noticed about Writing the Life Poetic when I opened up my package was the beautiful cover. Already, before even opening the book up to the first page, my senses were heightened by the brilliant designs and colors. When I ran my fingers over the cover of the book I was pleasantly surprised by the raised designs (especially on the back cover) and the raised text. Just holding the book was a poetic experience. Then I opened it - Wow! I was struck by the contrast between the bright white paper, the text, the colors, and the illustrations. Without reading a word my creative mind had already been given a jumpstart.

I was a closet poet for nearly twenty years and when I finally had the courage to submit some poetry for critique I realized how much I did not know about poetry. I was discouraged and even considered not writing poetry anymore because it all seemed too complicated and then I saw an advertisement in Writer's Digest for this book. I thought I would give it a try and I am so glad that I did. My reading of Writing the Life Poetic coincided with a 30-day poetry writing regimen that I participated in and I had the chance to incorporate much of Sage Cohen's advice with great results.

Her instructions are clear and concise and so easy to understand even for a beginner like me. The chapters are short but provide a wealth of information and encouragement. I read one chapter per day and this easily fit into my hectic schedule. Eighty days later I was not only writing more poetically, I was living more poetically. What Cohen has taught me through these beautiful pages has helped me in all of my writing: poetry, personal essays, and memoir. She has taught me that there is poetry to be found in even the most minute and mundane of things; in the things that might be overlooked even discarded otherwise. She has taught me that it is the awareness of the world around me and the writing of that awareness that is so important even if at first glance I do not consider what I write to be "top quality".

I recommend this book to beginner and experienced poets and writers alike. Beginners will get a guide book on how to embrace the poetry within and around them. Those with experience will get a fresh perspective on reading and writing poetry and expand their creative minds to higher levels. I also recommend Cohen's book of poetry, Like the Heart, the World, which will, after reading, unequivocally convince you that she knows of what she writes.

Sage Cohen also has a Writing the Life Poetic blog that you can subscribe to and it is a must read for all the fans of her book. It will provide you with a continuation of the same fresh poetic view of life that is seen within the pages of this book.