Close Calls with Nonsense

Close Calls with Nonsense is a collection of literary criticism focused on contemporary poetry and poets. Stephen Burt examines works from established and emerging voices while making modern poetry accessible to general readers. The essays explore specific poets and movements, providing context and analysis for understanding challenging verse. Burt moves through various styles and schools of poetry, from Language poetry to more traditional forms, explaining their significance and methods. Burt demonstrates how contemporary poetry connects to broader cultural conversations and historical traditions. He addresses questions about interpretation and meaning while considering what makes poems work and why they matter. The book serves as both a critical study and a defense of poetry's continuing relevance in modern culture. Through careful readings and clear explanations, it reveals how experimental and difficult poems can offer unique insights into human experience and artistic expression.

Readers appreciate Burt's clear explanations of complex contemporary poetry and his ability to make challenging works more accessible. Multiple reviewers note his skill at unpacking difficult poems without oversimplifying them. Readers liked: - Detailed analysis of specific poets and poems - Balance between academic insight and readability - Strong focus on emerging contemporary poets Readers disliked: - Dense academic language in some sections - Limited coverage of certain poetic movements - Price point for length From reviewer Mark S. on Amazon: "Burt bridges the gap between casual readers and academic poetry criticism." Review Metrics: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (49 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (12 ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (15 ratings) Several academic journals gave positive reviews, with Poetry Magazine calling it "a vital guide to contemporary American poetry." The book received particular praise from poetry teachers and graduate students using it as a teaching resource.

The Art of Description by Mark Doty A poet analyzes how contemporary writers render experience and perception through precise observations and imagery.

The Life of Poetry by Muriel Rukeyser This critical work examines poetry's role in society and traces connections between poetic expression and human consciousness.

The Hatred of Poetry by Ben Lerner A meditation on poetry's impossibilities and failures reveals why these limitations make poetry essential to human experience.

Breaking Open by Stephanie Burt A collection of essays explores transgender poetics and examines poetry through the lens of gender and identity.

Madness, Rack, and Honey by Mary Ruefle These collected lectures investigate poetry's mechanisms through historical, philosophical, and personal perspectives.

🔖 Stephen Burt transitioned and now goes by Stephanie Burt, continuing as a prominent poetry critic and Harvard professor 📚 The book's title comes from a phrase by poet Frank O'Hara, who wrote about having "close calls with nonsense" while trying to understand difficult poetry ✍️ The collection includes essays on more than 25 different contemporary poets, from well-known figures like Paul Muldoon to emerging voices of the early 2000s 🎓 Burt coined the influential term "elliptical poetry" to describe a style of contemporary verse that blends clarity with confusion, narrative with fragmentation 📖 The book serves as both criticism and guide, offering readers specific techniques for approaching and appreciating challenging modern poems