The Book of Forms (Revised and Expanded Edition)
 

In the primordial days before the Internet and West Chester when I was trying to teach myself how to write formal poetry in obscure isolation, I wore out my copy of Lewis Turco's The Book of Forms, so it is a great pleasure to have two poems of no enduring value included in his new revised and expanded edition. The index is a mess, but the text itself is a great delight by one of my favorite eccentric geniuses.

My pleasure is compounded by proximity to many past and current Eratoactivists: Mark Allinson, Catherine Chandler, Rhina Espaillat, Sam Gwynn, Jan Hodge, Robert Mezey and Robert Schechter (who has quite a number of poems included). Apologies if I or the index excluded anyone!

It would be an indispensable additon to your library even without the work of your friends.

This is marvellous news, Michael.

Congratulations to you and all the other spherians with poems in this new edition. I have a copy of the Third Edition (2000), which is well used but almost in mint condition; I'll donate it to the poetry group I sometimes go to, and treat myself to the new one!

In fact, I left off writing this to dash off to Amazon and order it. :)

Fantastic, Michael! Like Jayne, I have a Third edition, still in good shape, but it looks like I'm going to have to treat myself--oh, I can donate my Third edition to my school library, of course!

Charlotte

Mark Allinson!!! Now that's a name after my own name!!! G'donya, Hub!

(Mark is Rayne's dad, Jayne! The Sphere was such a different place when he was here! WAR all the time!!!! Great days...)

Thanks for news of the revised edition, Michael!

I've been looking forward to this. Thanks for announcing it.

I'm not giving away my old one until I see what's cut :o.

Terrific news, Michael. I'm ordering one on Amazon.

Wise words, Janice. The new book arrived today, and the first thing I looked up was 'Clerihew'; I do know the form but wanted to double-check the details because of the thread over on D & A. There isn't a specific section on it, so I'll be hanging onto my Third Edition after all, in case any other stuff's been cut!

No Clerihews?

What's been added? (Other than the great examples!)

I haven't done a comparison, Susan, but having both editions covers all the bases!

It's really great to see Spherians' work in the new book. (I'd list them but I'm scared of omitting someone.)

Thanks for this news, Michael, and congratulations. I've ordered my copy.

Best,
Jean