Structure & Surprise

The surprising turn is, as T. S. Eliot states in his essay “Andrew Marvell,” one of the most important means of poetic effect since Homer.”  In his latest book, Reel to Reel, Alan Shapiro turns to the materials of Homeric epic to draw out of them lyrics centered on the surprising turn, gathering these lyrics together in an eleven-part poetic sequence called “Homeric Turns.”

For anyone interested in thrilling, inventive turns, this series of poems is a must-read.  And the really great news is that “Homeric Turns” is available online—check it out here.