Books: Poeticules

BEFORE THE BRAVE—Kenneth Patchen —Random House ($2). SWEAR BY THE NIGHT—Nathalia Crane —Random House ($1.50). Mere mention of poetry makes most men itch. Not until poetry the thing has been sent again & again to the critical laundry would most self-respecting readers wear it next to their skins. Modern poets have always raised a storm of apprehensive, defensive abuse. Wordsworth was condemned for his prosiness, Whitman for his barbaric yawp, Browning for his obscurity. But readers of 1936 think they have a better case against their poets than more ancient moderns did against...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!