James,
I stumbled on a book in a second hand bookshop. It is one of my treasures. I don't suppose it is still available except in similar shops.
"Forms of Verse British and American" by Sara deFord and Clarinda Harriss Lott, Goucher College.
Appleton-Century-Crofts
Educational Division
New York Meredith Corporation
1971.
The reason I love the book is that it is crammed with examples as well as with information about form and it exudes a love for poetry of all kinds.
Another book for later on is a reference book about form. I am rather cross with it because it translates the fine Scottish border poem "A Lyke-Wake Dirge" into modern English, thus destroying all its music, without saying it has done so.
"The Book of Forms"
A Handbook of poetics,
By Lewis Turco
University Press of New England, Hanover
Hope these are of use,
Janet
[This message has been edited by Janet Kenny (edited February 05, 2004).]
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