Glyn Maxwell

On Poetry will be prized by writers and readers who wish to understand why and how poetic technique matters. Long regarded as one of Britain's major poets, Glyn Maxwell shows that the greatest verse arises from a harmony of mind and body, and that poetic forms originate in human necessities: breath, heartbeat, footstep, posture.

On Poetry

Donald

This will probably be the best book I read this year. It's fantastic as a polemic, a meditation on teaching, and a celebration of writing and reading poetry. Maxwell does not hide his arguments in jargon or niceties. He comes right out with it: poetry is verse and ought to use meter or rhyme, preferably both. "Prose poetry" is merely prose written by poets. Line break and stanza break are at the heart of poetry. He has a deep love of the English language and its poetic tradition that is infectious and makes me want to grab Donne and Wordsworth from the bookshelf.

Maybe the most interesting part of the book is that Maxwell argues the 'white' of the page is how poems mark time. I found his argument and examples convincing. It makes a lot of sense. He contrasts poetry and songwriting, which uses music to mark time.

I'm predisposed to like this book because I agreed with it before I read it, but I think the book would also be great for someone on the opposite side of these questions.

If you care about poetry at all, you must read it. Then check out the reviews in the NYRB and Poetry for some of the debate it's kicked off.

On Poetry

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