Poems' Progress features poems from various stages of Barker's career, each of which is accompanied by an informal, conversational essay on the background and process of writing and rewriting the poem. Including examples of drafts and revisions, the book offers a rare and unique insight into one poet's processes.
I found this book to be beautiful and insightful. Not only did I admire the poetry, but the essays about the writing process gave me courage as a poet.
Some really powerful poems (esp. the beginning two: "Practice" and "Persephone's Version"), mixed in with some occasional, less-than stellar prosaic wandering. But the brilliance of this collection is the addition of facsimile drafts and author's comments on context and history of each piece. Definitely a journey in a poem's progress.