In his debut poetry collection Theamp160Nature of Things Fragile Peter Vertacnikamp160depicts a world fraught with vulnerabilityamp160and loss. Utilizing a wide range of bothamp160received and nonce poetic forms includingamp160sonnets villanelles triolets a sestinaamp160epigrams blank verse and wordcountamp160he confronts the illnesses and deaths of loved ones both recent and long pastamp160Face Value amp8220Odd Elegyamp8221 amp8220Traceamp8221amp160the memories of old houses and townsamp160left behind amp8220Departureamp8221 Sugar Beetsamp8221amp160amp8220Mourning Dovesamp8221 and the vanishingamp160of onceubiquitous analog particularsamp160amp8220Apology to Candlesamp8221 amp8220Dial Toneamp8221 amp8220Inamp160Praise of Blank Cassettesamp8221. It is indeed aamp160book of elegies but one that also celebratesamp160the people places and things itamp160laments preserving their names andamp160details while laying them to rest.amp160The Nature of Things Fragile is the winneramp160of the twentythird New Criterionamp160Poetry Prize.