This anthology captures the diverse and evolving landscape of American verse as it stood at the close of the 1980s. John Ashbery serves as the guest editor, curating a selection of poems that reflect the aesthetic tensions and stylistic shifts of the era. The collection functions as a snapshot of the poetic output from various journals and magazines, presenting a range of voices that grapple with identity, form, and the nature of language itself. The narrative framework is non-linear, organized as a compilation of individual works rather than a singular cohesive story.

Discussion often centers on the editorial influence of John Ashbery and his specific criteria for selecting works that push the boundaries of conventional form. Readers frequently highlight the balance between experimental avant-garde pieces and more accessible, traditional lyric poetry found within the volume. Critics often note that the collection serves as a vital historical record of the stylistic preoccupations prevalent in the late 1980s. The anthology is frequently cited for its ability to showcase the breadth of American poetic talent during a period of significant transition.