The Grand Complication

Says John Tipton, “ Devin King’ s Grand Complication is a dizzy fugue of forms– regular stanzas in radical variety. And the sources of its argument are just as varied– The Thebaid of Statius, A Midsummer Night’ s Dream, or Melrose Place. It’ s reminiscent of Zukofky’ s omnivorous, inventive formalism. King orchestrates actors and narratives into a weltering long poem: William leads stoners to his apartment, thinking Julia will follow, but instead, she leads Abbie into Luke’ s room and Mike follows, though Mike had flirted with Julia before she jumped in the pool while Amphiaraus was swallowed by the earth. I know. It’ s complicated.” Replete with astoundingly beautiful thought-images, The Grand Complication is King’ s fourth book and first masterpiece.