This is not Muldoon's most accessible book, but it would be a shame to mistake the surface complexity for obscurity, or to assume that nothing worthwhile lurks beneath. In fact the book is deep, beautiful and profound -- and, of course, because it is Muldoon, funny as h-e-double-hockeysticks. "The Soap Pig" is as moving as anything Muldoon has written (at least until "Incantata" in *The Annals of Chile*), and several poems, including "Something Else," "The Mist-Net," and the excellent title poem are showcases for the poet's inimitable wit. As for those who have trouble locating the "point" of Muldoon's work, they should check out the poem called "The Point" in his new collection, *Hay*. Like his other work, it may leave them scratching their heads, but hey, if you've got an itch . . .
