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Everything I know about poetry I learned from the movies

Originally Published: April 02, 2007

Well, not everything, but a lot. I especially like thinking about how movie structures and devices can translate into poetry writing. I haven't been so interested in writing about movies or art but I like the idea of translating the structure of other arts into poetry.
Here's a minor example: I just watched the movie half nelson. Just before the movie was over my husband said, "this is when they're trying to figure out how to end the movie," and then the music swelled and got louder. And then it was over. I thought, "huh, you don't actually need to end the movie, just turn up the music." So, assignment to self: end a poem without ending, just turn up the music.
Back to matzo balls...

Poet and educator Rachel Zucker was born in New York City and grew up in Greenwich Village, the daughter…

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