You, Too, Could Write a Poem

This inspiring collection of reviews and essays on the pleasures of poetry by New York Times poetry columnist Orr is a powerful example of why he is one of our sanest (and therefore most important) voices on this too-often-neglected art. The great gift that Orr brings to the discussion is his openness and willingness to grapple with the "actual experience of reading a poem." Perhaps Orr's background in law gives him this eye for the particularities of a poem and the need to build a case (for or against) not through agendas and theories but through evidence and facts. That attention is definitely his greatest strength, but it is delightfully paired with a delicious wit. Whether he is writing about "Oprah's Adventures in Poetry Land" or making a reference to TV's crime-solving attorney Matlock, Orr is always a fascinating, clever, and inspiring guide (perhaps most especially when it comes to the wonders of Elizabeth Bishop and Philip Larkin). Readers curious about the state of contemporary poetry and the value of reading a poem will love this book (even when they don't agree with it).