One Minute Book Review: On Poetry

 

What is the name of the Book?
On Poetry

Author: Roger Robinson

Who is Roger Robinson?

Roger Robinson is a writer, musician, and performer who splits his time between England and Trinidad. He won the T. S. Eliot Prize in 2019 for his book A Portable Paradise published by Peepal Tree Press. He is the second Caribbean writer to win this prestigious UK poetry award after Derek Walcott in 2010. In May 2020, A Portable Paradise became only the second poetry book to win the Ondaatje Prize.

Publisher: Roger Robison

What is the book about?

On Poetry focuses on the art of creating poems and presents fresh perspectives on the writing process. Roger provides candid and pragmatic guidance on pursuing poetry as a calling and includes prompts to inspire creativity.

Why am I reading this book?

I am always looking for new ways to think about the craft of poetry, and veteran poet Roger Robinson has a lot to offer, especially in structuring and orchestrating poems.

Favorite quote from On Poetry:

“Poems Are Empathy Machines Poets don’t get into poetry for money, they do it for vocation at least I feel like that anyway. Poets can touch hearts and minds; they can translate trauma into something people can face. Sometimes there’s a cost for the poet to do that as it takes looking at the trauma right in the face and then allowing others to bear the idea of trauma safely. That’s why I write poetry. It is a chance for me to practise being radically vulnerable and as a result poems can become empathy machines. Poetry when it's read is a valuable chance to practise empathy towards the stories, sensation and concerns of the writer and with that practice of empathy hopefully one can go out in the wider world and be more empathetic. Poetry is my serious attempt to create change in the world.”

Where to buy: https://rogerrobinson6.gumroad.com/l/wrbcu or visit his web page: https://rogerrobinsononline.com/