"O Body Swayed to Music" —
  Books on poetry writing and reading

A special Poetry Daily feature: the poet R. T. Smith, author most recently of Brightwood and Editor of Shenandoah, reviews new and classic books on poetry writing and reading. Approaching these books in the context of his own development as a poet, Smith asks "what important discoveries do I wish I had made earlier, and what books would have led me to them?"

In the first of four articles, Smith looks at some of the standard texts that have been in use for years. In the next two pieces he examines newer books. In his final article Smith discusses "the books — old or new — that I think would serve me best if I were to resume teaching poetry writing...."

• Part I of "O Body Swayed to Music"
• Part II: "Old Dogs, New Tricks"
• Part III: "O Body Swayed to Muses"
• Part IV: "In Our Uncertainties"
• About R. T. Smith
• Selected poems by R. T. Smith from the Poetry Daily archive:
  • "Conviction"
    
  • "Illumination"
    
  • "Botanical Matins"
    
  • "Finding Vespers"
    
  • "Gristle Trout"
    
  • "Mushrooms"
• More poems:
  • "Sourwood" (From Atlantic Unbound.)
  • Three Poems (From The Cortland Review.)
• An interview with R. T. Smith. (From The Cortland Review.)