Stanzas 1-3

Maxwell's poem “The Nerve” begins with a reference to some ambiguous “rough shape,” which is not explained fully. The reader is engaged by the intrigue of not knowing what the speaker is talking about, but there is no full engagement. The speaker could be talking about anything at this point. It is not until the second line that this “rough shape” is given a little more detail. The meaning of this shape does not become too much clearer, but in attaching the phrase “your life,” the speaker draws the reader immediately into the poem. The speaker is talking directly to the reader, making the reader feel as if he or she had better pay attention. The speaker continues with words such as “your town” and “a dusty shop you pause in,” constantly tugging at the reader to participate in this poem.

It is also obvious that...