Word Whirls and other shape poems
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This issue’s cover is from The Lion Treasury of Children’s Prayers compiled by Susan Cuthbert and illustrated by Alison Jay. Thanks to Lion Publishing for their help in producing this March cover.
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Word Whirls and other shape poems
Collected by John Foster
Shape poems (poems which experiment with layout, the shape reflecting and enhancing the content of the poem) in small doses can be fun and sometimes thought provoking. They are also an excellent stimulus for writing. This lively and attractive anthology would be a welcome addition to any class poetry library or for the individual reader. There are some weak moments where the poems rely too much on typesetting and shape for meaning rather than a combination of words and image and it is a pity to have no poems by May Swenson or Edwin Morgan - two of the great shape poem writers; but in general, a page-turner which might inspire writing and more poetry reading.
