A year of intensive close reading and personal reflection led to this uniquely entertaining collection of essays about poetry in general and one remarkable poem in particular: 'In the dream of the cold restaurant' by Abigail Parry. Whether you're a seasoned poetry reader or a curious newcomer, this engaging and constantly surprising book offers a generous, idiosyncratic take on what poetry is, what it does, and what it's for. From the author of Multiple Joyce: 100 essays about James Joyce's cultural legacy .