In Fine Form

Book excerpt: In the decade since the publication of the first edition of In Fine Form, there has been a resurgence of poets writing in "form" - in sonnets and ghazals, triolets and ballads, villanelles and palindromes -- and formal poetry has become more visible in books, literary journals and classrooms. The first edition of this anthology was called "groundbreaking," "a paradigm shift" and "a landmark text." Since then, it has gone through several printings and been widely used in classrooms at all levels from elementary school to university, by writers who want to try something new, and by readers eager to explore a whole other side of poetry. In Fine Form Second Edition, is an anthology that continues to break new ground, a thrilling collection of more than 25 forms and 180 poems arranged by section, one for each form, with a brief introduction to the form's history and variations. An extended essay explores common poetic terms and technical devices. Surprising and exhilarating, here is a showcase for some of the best poetry this country has produced.