Comments on: Blogging through Grossman, Part 3: Poetic Promiscuity.

By: Micah Towery

Micah Towery — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:48:17 +0000

@ adam: i might be inclined to agree, but i’ve always struggled with him. i think, however, that after reading grossman’s insight (which seems fascinating to me) i’m going to have to reread and see what i can make of him.

By: Adam Fitzgerald

Adam Fitzgerald — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 03:16:51 +0000

The Inescapable poet of our time is John Ashbery.

By: Micah Towery

Micah Towery — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:20:38 +0000

or maybe not “go down in history” but at least be a poet that later poets will contend with in the future.

By: Micah Towery

Micah Towery — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:20:17 +0000

hey lewis, sorry i forgot to get back to you on your criteria question.

i suppose you name the criteria then the poet. or just somebody you think will go down in history as a great.

By: lewis

lewis — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:31:22 +0000

I’ll throw in Nikki Giovanni.

also this: http://splitthisrock.org/

By: CaptSnarkThePurplePirate

CaptSnarkThePurplePirate — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:24:46 +0000

At this point poetry is largely a social phenomenon that has little to do, really, with any truly interesting aspirations. Simple reflexivity, a spin in self-celebrating lights. Does anyone educated and intelligent who does not think herself a ‘poet’ give a damn? Should she?
The high moderns were near enough in time and sensibility to the religious roots of art that even as they left that sphere the sense of consequence and of danger ran deep. The word *mattered*. That is now dissipated. In time it will doubtless reemerge. Likely not quite yet. In the meantime the posturing and self-celebration, the party continues. It does no harm. No one listens, really.

By: lewis

lewis — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:56:54 +0000

micha, to your last question, “who are the greatest poets writing today?” — by what criteria?