The Heptalogia

Poetic argument turns into comic confusion in Algernon Charles Swinburne's seven-part collection. Presented as specimens of modern poets, the pieces play with grand claims, elaborate rhythms and speakers who take themselves very seriously. The opening poem ties faith, doubt, body and spirit into a string of contradictions, ending in nonsense syllables. In "John Jones's Wife," talk of love and disappointment winds through tangled rhymes and images of crabs, flowers and changing seasons.

The later excerpt shifts from a father's extravagant reflections on his baby to a complaining poet addressing a listener called Bill. Domestic conversation interrupts lofty thought, while the poet defends verses borrowed from printed books. These scenes give the collection its satirical edge: elevated language repeatedly rubs against ordinary concerns and comic self-importance. Readers interested in verse parody can follow how repetition, strained comparisons and sudden changes of tone make poetic habits sound absurd.