Comments on: National Poetry Month

By: Brian Hadd

Brian Hadd — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 18:12:53 +0000

And epics are resistant when the need for separation becomes too legible like anthologies are. Epic poetry is whole. The Hood Company

By: j r lee

j r lee — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 16:38:38 +0000

Remember Brodsky’s suggestion that poetry (anthologies or single-authored works or individual poems) be left in hotel rooms, like Gideon Bibles?
I think that if people could HEAR more poetry, on radio, in waiting rooms, or in TV fillers, it could help more persons to appreciate poems. Following Dana Gioia’s ideas (1990) efforts should always be made to keep poetry in the public sphere. Good poetry, well presented, will I think, usually go down well with the average listener. Many persons seem to attach some kind of mystery to poetry, assuming that it is not for them or it is beyond their ability to comprehend. There probably is need for some de-mystifying. Well-organised National Poetry Months can help.

By: Lisa Hunter

Lisa Hunter — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 14:36:20 +0000

Here’s my problem with anthologies: Too often, the editor chooses a certain type of poem, with a certain type of voice or outlook, so that the poets seem almost indistinguishable from one another (even if their other work is very different). If my first impression of a poet is, “Gee, he/she sounds just like everybody else,” I’m sure not going to buy a solo collection.