casual crit

There is need for more casual criticism—and less overly footnoted and cautiously argued academic criticism.

three variants

There are three kinds of aphorists: The aphorist pure, who composes his/her brief utterances for effect. The aphorist embedded, whose aperçus arise here and there within prose or poetry. The aphorist accidental, who often uncorks a good one in casual speech recounted by others.

loose control

One of those studied tossed off poems.

hard case

The poem was not obscure, it was obdurate; made of poetic material impervious to casual reading.