Mairead, I wasn't questioning anything you said but merely trying to
put a few things forward from my position in Canada, which is a lot
like Australia as Alison imparts it. INdeed, we have a number of
'contests', mostly for journals, here, although many are falling by the
wayside because all the people who write rather bad verse & think
poetry has to be in rhyming quatrains that sound like bad C&W songs are
finding that what wins is something very else which they would never
read, so they are no longer submitting (with their entry fees). But we
too have a number of small presses which can manage to survive with
government (ie, Canada Council) grants & lots of volunteer work. But, I
agree also, Alison, that any reader or poet who thinks s/he is
'objective' is probably out to lunch. I have my biases, & when I choose
a ms whatever circumstances, I'm looking for the kind of poetry that
most excites *me. Surely that is what happens with most people in such
a position. Of course, I'd probably be pissed off at the choices Jorie
graham makes (which seem to include her students) but mainly because
I'm not much of a fan of her work, so likely not that interested in the
poetry that matches her poetics.
As to cliques or whatever, think the Romantics, or think Pound & his
circle, & a very large etc.
Doug
Douglas Barbour
11655 - 72 Avenue NW
Edmonton Ab T6G 0B9
(780) 436 3320
I give up these words easily, they are easy
to give up, like changing currency before
a border: the cursive line between mountain
and sky, say, as perfect a mismatch as any
made in heaven.
Méira Cook
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