Types of Shape

John Hollander

John Hollander first appeared in the public eye way back in the fifties, when his first book was selected for the Yale Series of Younger Poets. Since then, Hollander has carved himself an exceptionally distinguished career in American letters, and deservedly so. Types of Shape is a worthy addition to the Hollander bookshelf, with the revised 1991 edition (it was originally published in the late sixties) just adding more of a good thing.

Types of Shape collects a number of Hollander's shape poems (these days perhaps better known as *calligrammes*, after Guillaume Apollinaire's term for them). In essence, it's a poem that takes the shape of whatever it is the poem is written about, be that a harpsichord, New York state, an arrow, etc. You probably wrote one of these back when you were in grade school, didn't you? (It's okay to admit it. Writing poetry is manly now, didn't you know?) Don't make the mistake, however, of passing this type of thing off as exclusively kid stuff; Hollander more than capably shows here that form can enhance the meaning in an already good piece (he states in the introduction that if it's not a good poem when the lines are flush left, then it's not going to be a good shape. Amen), not to mention lending it an air of playfulness and artistry.

If you're not yet familiar with Hollander, the thirty-five pieces here are a great start. If you're already a fan, you should already have this.