On English poetry

The author offers a collection of short, often opinionated essays that examine how poems are formed, contrasting spontaneous inspiration with deliberate craft and rhythmic technique. Topics range across definition of poetic impulse, the role of myth and primitive magic, diction, rhyme and alliteration, verse libre, musicality, reading aloud, humour, and the poet's social position, as well as practical issues such as editing, fake poetry, limitations and the moral question. Sections stand independently rather than forming a continuous argument, and combine psychological observation with technical advice and critical examples drawn from the English poetic tradition.