Customer Reviews

Making Poems: Forty Poems With Commentary by the Poets (Excelsior Editions)

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The joy of discovery is guaranteed: at minimum, the reader will find at least several new poets whose work she can pursue and will read many wonderful poems. Still further, the descriptions of the creative process are almost always compelling, joining inspiration and technique. I read each poem, then read the descriptions, then reread the poems. This procedure greatly enhanced both the understanding and the pleasure.
It became clear, however, that the poems exceeded what the poets said about them: there is no "intentional fallacy." While the value of this book for creative writers is obvious, I would also recommend it heartily to Continental philosophers for whom the poetry/philosophy relation is of great interest. In fact, I would recommend it to ALL general readers. The aim of Excelsior Editions of SUNY Press seems to be to delight and instruct such general readers (such as yours truly), and it fulfills this aim admirably.