Dogwatch - Hardcover

Dogwatch by R.S. Gwynn

Dogwatch is a hardcover poetry collection by R.S. Gwynn that combines satirical observation with formal mastery. This collection examines American culture through the lens of classical poetic forms, offering readers a sophisticated blend of wit and literary craftsmanship.

Poetry Collection Overview

R.S. Gwynn demonstrates his command of formal verse throughout this collection, employing traditional poetic structures to comment on contemporary American life. The poems range from satirical reimaginings of Dante's Inferno—featuring contractors and insurance agents—to sonnets constructed from TV-listing reductions of Shakespeare. This approach showcases Gwynn's ability to bridge classical literary traditions with modern cultural observations.

Themes and Literary Approach

The collection features elegies that honor both living and deceased figures, balancing tribute with satirical commentary. Gwynn's work draws comparisons to Juvenal, the Roman satirist, as he catalogs the follies of contemporary society. The poetry maintains a dual nature: elegiac reflection paired with sharp cultural criticism. This timor mortis—the fear of death—runs beneath the humor, creating depth beyond surface-level satire.

Formal Verse and Technical Mastery

Gwynn's expertise in traditional poetic forms is evident throughout Dogwatch. The collection includes sonnets, elegies, and other structured verse forms, demonstrating both technical skill and irreverent creativity. His polymorphic interest in the world allows him to move between subjects while maintaining formal discipline. The poems show how classical masters approached their own audiences—with sincerity tempered by irreverence.

Cultural Commentary

The collection addresses American malapropisms, cultural missteps, and the literary past as material for contemporary poetry. Gwynn recycles literary history, transforming it into commentary on present-day America. His demotic energy—language drawn from everyday speech—combines with learned references to create accessible yet sophisticated verse.

Edition Details

Published by Measure Press Inc. in February 2014, this hardcover edition presents Gwynn's work in a durable format suitable for both reading and collecting. The book serves as both literary criticism and original poetry, offering readers insight into formal verse techniques while delivering entertainment and cultural observation.

With his trademark wit, formal dexterity, and polymorphic interest in the world, R.S. Gwynn writes of an America of malapropisms and bad taste and a literary past ripe for recycling. Whether he conjures contractors and insurance agents suffering in a satire of Dante's Inferno, fashions a sonnet taken from TV-listing reductions of Shakespeare, or pays tribute (and more satire) to the living and the dead in a moving set of elegies, his mastery of the old masters and of his art is sincere and irreverent, as he knows the masters too must have been to their readers. Gwynn is a Juvenal for our age, pointing out our follies; yet his demonic, demotic energy has an elegiac timor mortis about it that reminds us nothing is more serious than a joke. In that sense, Gwynn is a poet for everyone, and the guiding spirit in this collection is at once elegiac and wry.