Trade Secrets of Modern Poetry: a Prosody Free Verse

This generously sized and finely-detailed literary essay can be enjoyed comfortably at home as a leisurely read, or used in high-school/college lit classes as an abundantly informative textbook.- An historical context is given for each explanation, as our understanding moves from early Modernism to contemporary poetry. Then, a helpful glossary often covers any point at which an uninitiated reader might naturally become curious or confused.- The in-depth commentary and stylish presentation of sophisticated arguments is made simple by the use of clearly signalled organization, sub-headings and shortish chapter divisions, and manageable paragraphs that each have one intelligible thing to say.- Its use of the English language is well-balanced; as old-school longer words and literary terms are placed within grammatically smooth sentences of everyday phrasing, down-home expressions, and fresh, up-to-the-minute vocab.- Example lines of poetry are copiously deployed for delicate illustration; but not as to obstruct the essay's evenly-textured reading, as prose.29,000 - 30,000 words(This book is a much-expanded and updated edition of an earlier essay that was first published as supporting apparatus in the second half of my collection - 'Modern Poetry and Free Verse for Today'.)