Rooted in various kinds of irritation, each poem in this volume takes a
glimpse of something that is hard to pin down--feelings, memories,
landscapes--and that continually demands to be examined, explored,
celebrated, or questioned. The long-form poem Scherzo Fantastique is
light and teasing in its tone while meditating on a stage actor's craft.
Additionally, a sequence of monologues in the voice of the wives of some
of the great composers--along with elegies, reflections on art, intimate
domestic lyrics, jokes, and love poems--all display a technical
expertise. Delighting in the moment, each poem's mixture of rhythm,
imagery, and structure once again affirms the power of poetry.