Comments on: The Best Poetry of the Year http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/ Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:40:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Ernie Wise http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26966 Ernie Wise Sat, 26 Dec 2009 08:04:24 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26966 Great stuff, the ebb and flow of this poetic exchange. Keep it up! Great stuff, the ebb and flow of this poetic exchange.

Keep it up!
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]]> By: Gary B. Fitzgerald http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26958 Gary B. Fitzgerald Fri, 25 Dec 2009 01:04:10 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26958 Good for you, Michael! And, Henry...you're the funniest guy in Po-blogia. Unfortunately, being a poet, I have never known what I was talking about. I just write down what the voices say. :-) Good for you, Michael!

And, Henry…you’re the funniest guy in Po-blogia.

Unfortunately, being a poet, I have never known what I was talking about. I just write down what the voices say.

:-)
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]]> By: Michael Robbins http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26955 Michael Robbins Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:22:52 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26955 Again, don't know what you're talking about, Gary. But I do have poems coming out in The New Yorker & Fence, if you're truly interested in what I cough up. Again, don’t know what you’re talking about, Gary. But I do have poems coming out in The New Yorker & Fence, if you’re truly interested in what I cough up.
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]]> By: Gary B. Fitzgerald http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26948 Gary B. Fitzgerald Thu, 24 Dec 2009 04:39:04 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26948 Every poet, and their poetry, will benefit from a little humility. Every poet, and their poetry, will benefit
from a little humility.
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]]> By: Henry Gould http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26947 Henry Gould Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:59:15 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26947 Gosh, good question, Mr. Investigator! What do I have against Mr. Wright? I don't know - you tell me! I've said only good things about him, & his poetry. Why don't you ask him what he has against me? Gosh, good question, Mr. Investigator! What do I have against Mr. Wright? I don’t know – you tell me! I’ve said only good things about him, & his poetry. Why don’t you ask him what he has against me?
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]]> By: Gary B. Fitzgerald http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26946 Gary B. Fitzgerald Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:43:58 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26946 Okay, I found Robbins on that thread. He was there. But what ITF do you guys have against Wright? Is it because he's the only one who is human enough to even speak to us? Where's Ashbery? Armantrout, Merwin, Snyder, Muldoon, Bob Dylan, for Chrissakes? et al, et al? Okay, I found Robbins on that thread. He was there.

But what ITF do you guys have against Wright? Is it because he’s the only one who is human enough to even speak to us?

Where’s Ashbery?

Armantrout,

Merwin,

Snyder,

Muldoon,

Bob Dylan, for Chrissakes?

et al,

et al?
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]]> By: Gary B. Fitzgerald http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26945 Gary B. Fitzgerald Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:19:42 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26945 Henry, Michael...you’re both full of beans! I engaged with Mr. Wright on DE long before you guys were ever even there, back in January: http://www.digitalemunction.com/2009/01/28/the-grump-and-the-sensitive-plant/ If you boys want to run with the big dogs, you should expect to get nipped now and then. And you should cough up a little poetry ... just to justify the runnin’, that is. (Yes, Michael, I'm a little loaded again but, hell, it's almost Christmas and, like I told you, I'm always honest!) Henry, Michael…you’re both full of beans! I engaged with Mr. Wright on DE long before you guys were ever even there, back in January:

http://www.digitalemunction.com/2009/01/28/the-grump-and-the-sensitive-plant/

If you boys want to run with the big dogs, you should expect to get nipped now and then.

And you should cough up a little poetry …

just to justify the runnin’, that is.

(Yes, Michael, I’m a little loaded again but, hell, it’s almost Christmas and, like I told you, I’m always honest!)
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]]> By: Michael Robbins http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26944 Michael Robbins Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:25:56 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26944 Sorry, Gary, you can "believe" that if you want to, but I was there. As I suspected, you do not actually know the history of FW's temper tantrums on DE, which long precede Kent's intervention & even KJ's tenure at DE, & to which Kent was alluding in the post you mention. I notice that even after I pointed out that you were wrong you didn't bother to do the basic research required. You "believe" that all this started with Kent's post, & that's enough for you, I guess. But for the record, which is easily checked, it started before then, when one of our writers posted a straightforward account of FW's stupid bullying of William Logan. Long before the post of Kent's you "believe" started the whole thing. FW came into the comment stream, throwing chairs, cursing everyone, ironically proclaiming his superiority, & generally behaving like the complete fool & jackass everyone knows him to be. That's why we occasionally rib him on the site. So now you know better. Sorry, Gary, you can “believe” that if you want to, but I was there. As I suspected, you do not actually know the history of FW’s temper tantrums on DE, which long precede Kent’s intervention & even KJ’s tenure at DE, & to which Kent was alluding in the post you mention. I notice that even after I pointed out that you were wrong you didn’t bother to do the basic research required. You “believe” that all this started with Kent’s post, & that’s enough for you, I guess. But for the record, which is easily checked, it started before then, when one of our writers posted a straightforward account of FW’s stupid bullying of William Logan. Long before the post of Kent’s you “believe” started the whole thing. FW came into the comment stream, throwing chairs, cursing everyone, ironically proclaiming his superiority, & generally behaving like the complete fool & jackass everyone knows him to be. That’s why we occasionally rib him on the site. So now you know better.
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]]> By: Henry Gould http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26943 Henry Gould Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:37:19 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26943 The Best Poetry of the Year is actually proving very difficult to locate. This is not due to the usual reasons (small presses, pecking orders, editorial inebriation, slackers on the job, Corruption, Shiva or Kali or Destiny or Luxury, Sanitation Departments, Departments, Other Departments, Some More Departments, Pigeonholes of Departments, Intelligence on Vacation, National Decay, International Decay, Original Sin, Originality, etc. etc.). No, the difficulty (as reported by SNN - Somebody Nosey-Nosey) emerged out of the depths of nomenclature. Yes, that's right, out of WORDS. As reported by Jacqueline Triathlon of the Athens Duly Noted (AP/Reuters) in late November 2009, poetry - I mean Poetry in General - has changed its name. Poetry is now called Elbakia (or Elbaquia, depending on region). Search engines take note. What used to be referred to as "poetry" no longer exists. Be calm, stay tuned, everyone. Look for Elbakia. Good night, & good decade. The Best Poetry of the Year is actually proving very difficult to locate. This is not due to the usual reasons (small presses, pecking orders, editorial inebriation, slackers on the job, Corruption, Shiva or Kali or Destiny or Luxury, Sanitation Departments, Departments, Other Departments, Some More Departments, Pigeonholes of Departments, Intelligence on Vacation, National Decay, International Decay, Original Sin, Originality, etc. etc.). No, the difficulty (as reported by SNN – Somebody Nosey-Nosey) emerged out of the depths of nomenclature. Yes, that’s right, out of WORDS. As reported by Jacqueline Triathlon of the Athens Duly Noted (AP/Reuters) in late November 2009, poetry – I mean Poetry in General – has changed its name.

Poetry is now called Elbakia (or Elbaquia, depending on region).

Search engines take note. What used to be referred to as “poetry” no longer exists. Be calm, stay tuned, everyone. Look for Elbakia. Good night, & good decade.
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]]> By: Henry Gould http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26942 Henry Gould Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:44:02 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26942 Mr. Wright's comments about me were unjustified and uncalled-for. I don't bully people & I don't take part in such. You & Mr. Wright may want to lump me with others, in order to play your own blame games. But that's your business. Mr. Wright’s comments about me were unjustified and uncalled-for. I don’t bully people & I don’t take part in such. You & Mr. Wright may want to lump me with others, in order to play your own blame games. But that’s your business.
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]]> By: Gary B. Fitzgerald http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26941 Gary B. Fitzgerald Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:02:36 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26941 Michael: first off, I do not lie...ever. You can count on that. Secondly, I believe this all started when Kent Johnson announced to the world on DE that he had just written the worst sentence since Franz Wright. When Wright, indignant, naturally, objected, the pack was on the trail. The digital bully-boys went on the attack. A comment can be deleted, but surely you don't think that I'm the only one out here who can read...or remember. I do, however, want to compliment all parties to this little melee in that nobody said anything critical about anybody else' poetry. At least there's a little honor left among poets. GBF Michael: first off, I do not lie…ever. You can count on that.

Secondly, I believe this all started when Kent Johnson announced to the world on DE that he had just written the worst sentence since Franz Wright. When Wright, indignant, naturally, objected, the pack was on the trail. The digital bully-boys went on the attack.

A comment can be deleted, but surely you don’t think that I’m the only one out here who can read…or remember.

I do, however, want to compliment all parties to this little melee in that nobody said anything critical about anybody else’ poetry. At least there’s a little honor left among poets.

GBF
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]]> By: Wendy Babiak http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26935 Wendy Babiak Wed, 23 Dec 2009 04:40:10 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26935 I don't believe in fairies OR in some inherent nobility of poets, just that we really ought to TRY to be decent (not enlightened, not perfect) human beings or why the heck would anyone want to read what we've got to say? At least when we fail in such an epic fashion we ought to have some shame and try not to broadcast our pettiness. Donald Rumsfeld writes poetry, too, but you're not going to see me shelling out a dime to read it, even if it were any good (there's plenty of good poetry out there, I don't need to read stuff written by people with minds not worth communing with). At this point I'm not inclined to buy one of Mr. Wright's books, either, I'm afraid (not that he's in Rumsfeld's class of jackass, of course), though I've enjoyed well enough what I've read of his online and in the recent Poetry mag. He ought to try to keep that in mind when he decides to rant in public. He says he gave up everything for poetry. I hope that didn't include his decency, or there's an increased chance his poetry won't endure. You know who's poetry I enjoyed this morning? Philip Whalen. Now that guy's good company. I don’t believe in fairies OR in some inherent nobility of poets, just that we really ought to TRY to be decent (not enlightened, not perfect) human beings or why the heck would anyone want to read what we’ve got to say? At least when we fail in such an epic fashion we ought to have some shame and try not to broadcast our pettiness.

Donald Rumsfeld writes poetry, too, but you’re not going to see me shelling out a dime to read it, even if it were any good (there’s plenty of good poetry out there, I don’t need to read stuff written by people with minds not worth communing with). At this point I’m not inclined to buy one of Mr. Wright’s books, either, I’m afraid (not that he’s in Rumsfeld’s class of jackass, of course), though I’ve enjoyed well enough what I’ve read of his online and in the recent Poetry mag. He ought to try to keep that in mind when he decides to rant in public. He says he gave up everything for poetry. I hope that didn’t include his decency, or there’s an increased chance his poetry won’t endure.

You know who’s poetry I enjoyed this morning? Philip Whalen. Now that guy’s good company.
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]]> By: John Oliver Simon http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26934 John Oliver Simon Wed, 23 Dec 2009 03:49:09 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26934 Ahhhh, is the digital emunction. Yessss. Ahhhh, is the digital emunction. Yessss.
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]]> By: John Oliver Simon http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26933 John Oliver Simon Wed, 23 Dec 2009 03:34:46 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26933 Not to sound too out of it, but DE would be where, exactly? Not to sound too out of it, but DE would be where, exactly?
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]]> By: Michael Robbins http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26928 Michael Robbins Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:21:29 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26928 Gary, if you're going to lie about me, at least have the nerve to drop me a line or something. For the record, none of us at DE said word one to or about FW before <i>he</i> dropped by to insult a number of people in the vilest, most idiotic terms. Why don't <i>you</i> mention that everything anyone said about or to him <i>followed</i> his unprovoked fit of spittle-flecked nutjob megalomania? Gary, if you’re going to lie about me, at least have the nerve to drop me a line or something. For the record, none of us at DE said word one to or about FW before he dropped by to insult a number of people in the vilest, most idiotic terms. Why don’t you mention that everything anyone said about or to him followed his unprovoked fit of spittle-flecked nutjob megalomania?
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]]> By: Michael Robbins http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26927 Michael Robbins Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:18:34 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26927 What the hell is that supposed to mean? Poets, of all people, are more enlightened, a shining example to humanity? Jesus, do you want me to give you some names to Google in conjunction with "fascism" or "Stalin" or "anti-Semitism"? No? Then stop believing in fairies. What the hell is that supposed to mean? Poets, of all people, are more enlightened, a shining example to humanity? Jesus, do you want me to give you some names to Google in conjunction with “fascism” or “Stalin” or “anti-Semitism”? No? Then stop believing in fairies.
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]]> By: Michael Robbins http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26926 Michael Robbins Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:14:02 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26926 Wow, if you don't think Tao Lin is "acceptable," you must be living in Kansas. What Teri thinks of as radical is trite & staid, but who's counting. Me, actually. Counting sheep as I try to dream away the proposition that Tao Lin, of all people, isn't "safe." Wow, if you don’t think Tao Lin is “acceptable,” you must be living in Kansas. What Teri thinks of as radical is trite & staid, but who’s counting. Me, actually. Counting sheep as I try to dream away the proposition that Tao Lin, of all people, isn’t “safe.”
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]]> By: Gary B. Fitzgerald http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26925 Gary B. Fitzgerald Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:24:00 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26925 I always said that Harriet was a magical place. I always said that Harriet was a magical place.
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]]> By: Gary B. Fitzgerald http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26924 Gary B. Fitzgerald Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:13:00 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26924 Hmmm...mysterious disappearing comments and poetry. Hmmm…mysterious disappearing comments and poetry.
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]]> By: Henry Gould http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26912 Henry Gould Mon, 21 Dec 2009 23:39:48 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26912 Whiners? Little whining babies? You're very quick with the put-downs, Franz. & you brag about your sacrifices for your poetry. But you just don't know me. You don't know anything about me! That's what amazes me. Like I say, I'm older than you are, Franz, by quite a bit. I've made my own choices on behalf of poetry, but I'm not going to brag about it. & I defy you to show me where, since the time I started writing poetry many decades ago, I have "whined" about it. I think I've been pretty clear where I stand on the whole "inside/outside" business. I'm not one of the literary conspiracy hawkers, or theorists of factions. I've said that poetry is one grest art & tradition, & it has its own demands & standards. I've never blamed anyone for being left out; I'm not bitter; in fact I'm very hopeful & confident about poetry - whether I myself am "successful" at it or not. That is not how it is, anyway. Poetry has its own ways, which we can't control - I've said & written that again & again. I've also put MOST of my time & effort into making poetry over the last 25 years - & I'm happy enough with it. I can look at poems I wrote 25 yrs ago & still find them worth reading. The thing is, you know nothing about me, & you don't really care : the insults come too easily for you. But it doesn't really bother me! Why should it! I'm just kind of taken aback by the gratuitousness of it all. Anyway, I wish you & all the Harriet readers some peace & joy for the holidays. Whiners? Little whining babies?

You’re very quick with the put-downs, Franz. & you brag about your sacrifices for your poetry. But you just don’t know me. You don’t know anything about me! That’s what amazes me.

Like I say, I’m older than you are, Franz, by quite a bit. I’ve made my own choices on behalf of poetry, but I’m not going to brag about it. & I defy you to show me where, since the time I started writing poetry many decades ago, I have “whined” about it. I think I’ve been pretty clear where I stand on the whole “inside/outside” business. I’m not one of the literary conspiracy hawkers, or theorists of factions. I’ve said that poetry is one grest art & tradition, & it has its own demands & standards. I’ve never blamed anyone for being left out; I’m not bitter; in fact I’m very hopeful & confident about poetry – whether I myself am “successful” at it or not. That is not how it is, anyway. Poetry has its own ways, which we can’t control – I’ve said & written that again & again. I’ve also put MOST of my time & effort into making poetry over the last 25 years – & I’m happy enough with it. I can look at poems I wrote 25 yrs ago & still find them worth reading.

The thing is, you know nothing about me, & you don’t really care : the insults come too easily for you. But it doesn’t really bother me! Why should it! I’m just kind of taken aback by the gratuitousness of it all.

Anyway, I wish you & all the Harriet readers some peace & joy for the holidays.
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]]> By: Henry Gould http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26910 Henry Gould Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:51:26 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26910 It's actually a winter solstice celebration. Get with the program. Play, play, play. It’s actually a winter solstice celebration. Get with the program. Play, play, play.
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]]> By: John Oliver Simon http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26909 John Oliver Simon Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:44:50 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26909 Inevitable peanut gallery, we get to Bronx cheer both sides as hissy fits play out in public, making each principal look tawdry. Shall we lay odds on the passive-aggressive righteous wounded victim, or the huffing dismissive hollow dominant? Blood-pressures soar, obsessive ripostes await, but luckily, our all-too-reptile display behavior does not tarnish the poetry. I refer you to the nasty things said about each other in Chile in the thirties by Pablo Neruda, Vicente Huidobro and the Bukowski-like Pablo De Rokha. Inevitable peanut gallery, we get to Bronx cheer both sides as hissy fits play out in public, making each principal look tawdry. Shall we lay odds on the passive-aggressive righteous wounded victim, or the huffing dismissive hollow dominant? Blood-pressures soar, obsessive ripostes await, but luckily, our all-too-reptile display behavior does not tarnish the poetry. I refer you to the nasty things said about each other in Chile in the thirties by Pablo Neruda, Vicente Huidobro and the Bukowski-like Pablo De Rokha.
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]]> By: Henry Gould http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26908 Henry Gould Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:05:02 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26908 Said consequences include the peanut gallery, inevitably. Said consequences include the peanut gallery, inevitably.
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]]> By: Gary B. Fitzgerald http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26907 Gary B. Fitzgerald Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:19:53 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26907 "The fastest way to get famous is to throw a brick at someone famous." - Walter Winchell “The fastest way to get famous is to throw a brick at someone famous.”

– Walter Winchell
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]]> By: Henry Gould http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26906 Henry Gould Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:29:20 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26906 It's an Open Letter. It's not required reading, for you or anyone else. I chose this method & this venue because Mr. Wright is in the habit of transmitting his disdain for persons in both public & private fashion, & then refusing to discuss it further. I am just one recipient of such contemptuous messages. I decided to try to change the pattern. I'm willing to take the consequences. It’s an Open Letter. It’s not required reading, for you or anyone else. I chose this method & this venue because Mr. Wright is in the habit of transmitting his disdain for persons in both public & private fashion, & then refusing to discuss it further. I am just one recipient of such contemptuous messages. I decided to try to change the pattern. I’m willing to take the consequences.
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]]> By: Jill http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26904 Jill Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:11:22 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26904 This is obviously some private affair that has nothing to do with anything in this thread, so Henry, why don't you take your pique and put it in an email to Franz and sort it out that way? Or give him a call? You just sound petty and silly importing this stuff from somewhere else and dropping it in here. This is obviously some private affair that has nothing to do with anything in this thread, so Henry, why don’t you take your pique and put it in an email to Franz and sort it out that way? Or give him a call? You just sound petty and silly importing this stuff from somewhere else and dropping it in here.
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]]> By: Henry Gould http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26903 Henry Gould Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:34:46 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26903 I understand the impulse to say "a plague on both your houses". But I haven't responded to Mr. Wright's disparaging remarks with more insults. In fact, in the open letter above, I praised his poetry, & sought common ground. I understand the impulse to say “a plague on both your houses”. But I haven’t responded to Mr. Wright’s disparaging remarks with more insults. In fact, in the open letter above, I praised his poetry, & sought common ground.
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]]> By: Wendy Babiak http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26901 Wendy Babiak Mon, 21 Dec 2009 02:51:05 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26901 All rather ugly, the preceding. One would hope that poets (human beings?) might perceive and/or practice a larger esprit de corps than what's evidenced here. Because if poets can't manage to behave humanely with each other, how in the world can we maintain hope that humanity might learn to? All rather ugly, the preceding. One would hope that poets (human beings?) might perceive and/or practice a larger esprit de corps than what’s evidenced here. Because if poets can’t manage to behave humanely with each other, how in the world can we maintain hope that humanity might learn to?
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]]> By: Henry Gould http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26900 Henry Gould Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:00:34 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26900 OK, Franz. So it's not about my poetry, which you clearly haven't read. You decided to insult me personally because I engage in a lot of internet chit-chat. Here's a question for you : if it's so worthless & a such waste of time, what are you doing here? I guess once you've published some books with Knopf or whoever, & proved you are a real bonafide poet, it's OK to go online now & then & badmouth people, vent. That's what I would call one of the perks of literary success. Hey, you'te welcome to it, buddy. OK, Franz. So it’s not about my poetry, which you clearly haven’t read. You decided to insult me personally because I engage in a lot of internet chit-chat. Here’s a question for you : if it’s so worthless & a such waste of time, what are you doing here?

I guess once you’ve published some books with Knopf or whoever, & proved you are a real bonafide poet, it’s OK to go online now & then & badmouth people, vent. That’s what I would call one of the perks of literary success. Hey, you’te welcome to it, buddy.
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]]> By: Franz Wright http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/12/the-best-poetry-of-the-year/#comment-26899 Franz Wright Sun, 20 Dec 2009 23:53:41 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=6648#comment-26899 Henry--I have no opinion about your "work", or the "work" of others like little Kent and the others you masturbate with. My suggestion to all of you is: give up everything for the art. Everything. Can you do that? I did it 35 years ago--do you think that might have something to do with what you little whiners call "being on the inside"? I am not on the inside of shit. I gave up everything, everything, to be a poet. I lived in financial terror and homelessness, sometimes, for nearly 40 years. Can you do that? You little whining babies. Henry–I have no opinion about your “work”, or the “work” of others like little Kent and the others you masturbate with. My suggestion to all of you is: give up everything for the art. Everything. Can you do that? I did it 35 years ago–do you think that might have something to do with what you little whiners call “being on the inside”? I am not on the inside of shit. I gave up everything, everything, to be a poet. I lived in financial terror and homelessness, sometimes, for nearly 40 years. Can you do that? You little whining babies.
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