THE WONDERFUL PEN OF MAY SWENSON

As Swenson's longtime companion and literary executor's title suggests, this biography centers on the poet's literary evolution. Knudson does describe key characters and events— Swenson's Utah youth as oldest child in a large, devout Mormon family; her escape to N.Y.C. as a young woman during the Depression; her hand-to-mouth existence as a struggling poet unwilling to compromise enough to hold a job; years of rejection slips; volatile relationships. None of these is portrayed in depth (Swenson's feelings toward her family are left particularly enigmatic), but Knudson offers enough revealing detail to give a sense of this fiercely independent woman's character. Best, she quotes many poems that illuminate Swenson's experiences; and describes the act of creation (``Her way of working was to begin poems with lines that seemed to leap out of thin air'') and the way she thought about it (``She'd had fun choosing the adjectives to pour into `Sun,' but she'd weakened the poem with too many of them''). Five of her poems are published for the first time here. A provocative, insightful portrayal of a fine contemporary poet, much of whose work has particular appeal for young people. List of Swenson's books. B&w photos & index not seen. (Biography. 10- 14)