It’s been described as embarrassing, clichéd or “unhelpful singsong.” Many poets dislike it too, but it’s a style they’ve learned from each other.

You might wonder where poems come from. I’d like to write a poem, you think. But what should I write about? From poet Sharon Olds: “What you know that I don’t know is what you can tell me in a poem.

Some books do not need to shout to be heard. They speak quietly and clearly, with a kind of wisdom that lingers. Bone Flute: A Woman Speaks is one of those rare collections that opens a space for ...