(0763621161)
I have never read anything by Koertge that didn't rate above a 7 on my scale of perfection. This book is no exception, although it is quite different from his usual Teen Problem Novel. This time we are led through mono and poetry exercises by a 14-year-old baseball star, bored out of his mind and doing anything to pass the time, even writing poetry. He turns out to be pretty good at it: from free verse to sonnets to sestinas (I'd never heard of these, but I'm now itching to try one!). On the other hand, he's no expert, so the sonnet's scheme doesn't flow exactly right, but he talks about revising in the dugout after he's finally able to play baseball again....
Good book for boys (and girls) who think poetry is for weirdos.
Here's his Elegy example:
Ollie, Ollie, All in FreeIt's okay to come out now, Mom.
I've looked everywhere. In the closets,
downstairs, in the garage, the attic.
I know you've found a really cool place
to hide, but it's been long enough now,
okay?
Come out, come out, wherever you are.
It's dark, and you're really late for dinner.
No comments:
Post a Comment