The author believes that most people have a "Muse," an inner poet, somewhere within them. Some degree of poetic tendency or aptitude lies dormant in some, and others are shy about expressing theirs. Still others need help to craft their creations with more skill, learning to use figures of speech and poetic devices. Many need to learn how to work and rework the basic nuggets of poetry until they shine with mysterious beauty.
Christians who write poetry are challenged to discover how to use it in ministry. Leona shows how it can be done in this new "how to" book.
Roberta Kells Dorr, novelist and poet, writes in
the Foreword:
"Leona reminds us that even great poets don't receive their
treasured poetic thoughts complete, perfect and saleable. She
believes in excellence, and she is not content to keep its
secrets to herself. She is committed to sharing them with others
and is willing to answer many of our questions: Are poets born or
made? What is the difference between a good poem and one that
needs improvement? Does anyone actually buy poetry these days?
Can my poetry become a ministry to others? Leona is
well-qualified to answers these and many more questions for us.
For poets who are serious about their craft, or want to be, her
book is a must."
Leona asks the hard questions. Is poetry written by Christians beginning to flourish in our American society again--as secular poetry is emerging? Are poetry readings and workshops in the Christian context becoming popular? If not, why not?
Are Christians among the serious poetry writers composing quality crafted verse whose work is respected by the academic community? If not, why not?
How about "verses for the King" in the model of Psalm 45:1? "My heart overflows with a good theme; I address my verses to the King; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer." Do poets who are Christians reach out with eager "hearts overflowing" to the man on the street with down-to-earth yet uplifting "good themes"? If not, why not?
Leona Choy has written this book as a modest but sincere effort to address this situation. She wants to motivate Christians who are endowed by God with a poetic gift of expression to improve and enrich the quality of their poetry, to hone their verse to be artistically acceptable--"in favor with man."
More than that, she challenges poets who are Christians to use their gift for ministry--to be "in favor with God." We honor God, as Jesus did, if we "grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man."
Leona covers topics such as how to identify a poem and a poet; ideation in poetry; poetry formats, figures of speech and poetic devices; checklists to improve your poetry; how and where to market poetry; the mechanics of submitting a poem; and exploring the independent publishing alternative. Her rich bibliography and resources give both the beginning and seasoned poet excellent direction for further study. Leona uses many of her own poems as examples in the text.
Leona has three published anthologies of poetry and a chapbook. Life--Stop Crowding Me! and Heaven and Nature Sing and Songs of My Pilgrimage and Divine Applications. Her poems have been read on the air over her program on station WTRM-FM and frequently on the Nightsounds radio program heard across the country. She conducts poetry workshops and readings.
See Leona's new Trilogy of Poetry Anthologies under one cover, Celebrate This Moment!
You are invited to visit the web site often to enjoy Leona's Poem of the Month.
Available in paperback $14.95
ISBN 1-889283-02-9
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