As selected here, Spender writes about a few themes impressively and intensely. There are some metaphysical-conceit poems, often based on grammar; there are love poems; and there are public poems. There are great poems in each group, but the public poems tend to be stronger; the best of all are often the poems that combine two approaches, like 'Nocturne,' which starts out eye-rolling and ends up brilliant. He's often sentimental, he's often preachy, but you know what? Maybe we need more sentiment, more preaching, and less documentary evidence of the dullness of poets' lives. ( )