First published 2007
Brad Leithauser presents a collection that celebrates the playful side of language through carefully crafted verse. The book divides into three distinct sections that showcase different approaches to wordplay and verbal wit. Lines offers couplets that capture moments and observations with precision and humor. Rhymes explores the musical possibilities of language through varied poetic forms. Riddles challenges readers with puzzles that twist meaning and sound in unexpected ways. Each section demonstrates how constraints can spark creativity rather than limit it. Leithauser draws from everyday experiences and transforms them through the lens of formal poetry. The collection reveals how traditional poetic forms can feel fresh when handled with skill and imagination. This book offers readers the pleasure of language used with both technical mastery and genuine delight.
Genres: language, poetry, 21st-century
Vibes: lyrical, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: found-family
Paperback · Mount Holyoke College Art Museum