"A society without poetry and the other arts would have broken its mirror and cut out its heart." Margaret Atwood So boldly insists one of our greatest writers in Measures of Astonishment , a refreshing and eclectic mix of both deeply personal and formal essays that offer a glimpse into the minds of some of Canada's most influential poets. In addition to Margaret Atwood, the contributors to this volume include a virtual who's who of the country's literary elite: Anne Carson, George Elliot Clarke, Anne Simpson, Tim Lilburn, Marilyn Bowering, A.F. Moritz, Mark Abley, Glen Sorestad, Robert Currie, Don McKay, Lillian Allen, and Gregory Scofield. Measures of Astonishment shines a northern light on poetry, offering unique perspectives as to what poetry is, what it does, and why it matters.