Prizewinning poet Hal Sirowitz, who we interview in this week's "Word Count" feature, recommends these books of poetry and teaching poetry:

"For new haiku enthusiasts, read Basho and Issa. After you read them you'll understand why they only had one name. Michelangelo only needed one name, too. Need I say more? I also recommend Kenneth Koch's book Wishes, Lies, and Dreams for teaching poetry."

"Poetry can and should be an important part of our daily lives," The Library of Congress's Poetry 180 website proclaims. It's designed to for students to read a poem a day for every one of the 180 school days of a year. But you don't have to be a student to enjoy this selection of poems, of course. Click here to see the complete list of poems.

These sites offer poets, poems, even tips on how to "win" at poetry workshops:

Poetry.org

Poetry X

The Poetry Project at St. Mark's Church

Poetry Slam Incorporated

Electronic Poetry Center

Want to conjure more powerful poetry, vivid verse or delectable doggerel? These books on writing poetry can help:

A Poetry Handbook

The Poet's Companion: A Guide to the Pleasures of Writing Poetry

In the Palm of Your Hand: The Poet's Portable Workshop

Writing Poetry

We gather in the poetry corner of the Lounge this month to spend some time with a good old-fashioned poem written back in the day when rhyme and meter were an expected part of the package. Along the way, we marvel at the staying power of a few sturdy English words.  Continue reading...

Veneta Masson has practiced nursing for 35 years, mostly in inner-city Washington, DC. Along the way, she found an outlet to express everything she was witnessing and experiencing -- poetry. Veneta started putting together essays and poems about her nursing life and today has two collections in print, Ninth Street Notebook (short pieces) and Rehab at the Florida Avenue Grill (poems). She's also part of a community of nurses who write verse influenced by their profession. Call them Nurse Poets.

VT: How did you get started writing poetry?

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