Thanks to Doug for his great list of poets, some of whose names I don't
recognize, but most of whom I've heard of or read in current journals, or
through e-mail lists etc. It's great that you're in touch with so much of
what's being produced, Doug, and can publish this info so helpfully. If
anyone wants a book by Andrea Brady or Kristin Prevallet, I have them as
wares.
I suppose I'd still prefer to know which of these poets you'd want to
criticize, Doug, and on what grounds you find some or much of this work at
odds with your own principal interests at dictional or thematic levels.
An index is useful, but supplementary. I think this would be necessary to
dispel the inevitable suspicion that these names have been posted ONLY
because they are women's names. Such a post would of course be useful, as
a brief survey of the field and as a way of sharing some sense of who's
about. I'll look out for the names you mention. But still: you say
Juliana is a paticular favourite of yours -- why? Doesn't this large
spread of various and divergent work deserve to be described in terms more
specific and less preoccupied with the default interest of identity?
I say this not because I consider identity unimportant, but because I fear
a regression of its relevance in proportion as it overshadows particular
and attentive criticism. In this light I think that the critical remarks
(eg Keith's) on the poems Chris posted were useful and necessary. Why
should a poet like Grace Lake be pleased to be of interest according to
the same criterion that makes Carol Ann Duffy interesting?
The idea that there was some kind of barbaric clamour following Chris's
post is just absurd, but indeed typical as a reaction against particular
critical comments that itself has nothing particular to say. If someone
disagrees with what I said about the lines I criticized, perhaps they
could do the lines a real service by saying -why-, on what grounds, with
what purpose -- rather than just objecting nervously to the fact that they
were criticized at all.
I liked your poem Chris, though felt at some points that its conspicuous
self-damage was in danger of seeming a little suave. But on the whole I
thought it inventive and energized, with some striking fixated
description. Do you have a reserve of such poems, or do you post them as
you write them? I'd like to see more.
have a good week all, k
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