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Article: Shells.(Review)
- Article from:
- Poetry
- Article date:
- April 1, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 Modern Poetry Association. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Shells, by Craig Arnold. Yale University Press. $11.00.
Imagine for a moment that Craig Arnold's first book had not won the 1999 Yale Series of Younger Poets prize. Already, it's accomplishments seem larger, its failings more forgivable. Of course, most books would squirm in the spotlight of this particular award, which simultaneously produces avian expectations in readers and many forgettable volumes. Bestowed with W. S. Merwin's first scepter-tap since he took over the prize, Arnold outstripped his competition; even so, his was not the best first book published last year. Let's forgive it this at the outset and move on.
Taken whole, Shells has much to ...