The Poetry of Michelangelo offers a unique insight into the mind and heart of one of the greatest artists of all time, and is a notable literary achievement in its own right. This book provides an invaluable tool for gaining access to this major cultural and literary source; it lays out the broad chronological evolution of the poetry; and above all through a close analysis of the individual poems and a concluding overview, it clarifies both the meaning of the poems and verbal artistry that shaped their construction.