A guide to prosody and to the mechanics of writing poetry. This is as well-written and enjoyable as a creative writing text could be. ( )

I heartily recommend this book to anyone interested in writing poetry, and to many who just want to read and appreciate poetry. The book perfectly reflects Alexander Pope's aphorism that "the ease of writing comes from art, not chance" - as, indeed, the author notes along the way. Though many of its lessons may seem self-evident, that very clarity is part of the book's strength: a how-to guide on the brushstrokes an artist can use to make a masterwork out of language. ( )