Poetry is one of those subjects almost impossible to define as it can be so many things at once. It can be: kids whispering limericks on the playground; secret languages used by revolutionaries and spies; or the written strength of oppressed people. Poetry is how millions of people across time have used language to try to better understand love, hate, war, religion, oppression, joy, sorrow, sex, and death. Poetry is one of the oldest forms of writing in the world, yet also constantly evolving. Despite its complexities, poetry is probably the way most people learned how to read. POETRY FOR BEGINNERS is a fun, lively and accessible guide, and expands one's understanding and knowledge of poetry through the ages. From ancient Greece to the present, POETRY FOR BEGINNERS traces the wonders of the written word and shows how it is relevant in daily life. Margaret Chapman is a poet, fiction writer, and educator. She worked for four years through the Poetry Center of Chicago as a Poet-in-Residence in the Chicago Public Schools. In 2008 she was awarded the Poetry Center of Chicago's Gwendolyn Brooks Award for excellence in teaching. In addition to being a Poet-in-Residence, she was a teaching artist at Young Chicago Authors and she currently teaches in the English department at Indiana University South Bend.