A Revision of Forward

By turns tender and rough-hewn, and always structurally inventive, the poems in Wendy McGrath’s new collection show a writer reaching the height of her creative powers.

Whether evoking the vulgar give-and-take of a men’s poker night, fleeting moments of connection between mothers and sons, afternoons spent in overgrown backyard gardens, or wondrous childhood trips to the drive-in, McGrath’s feel for the bygone details of working-class life is uncanny. The book’s highlight is the playful poet...