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I quote from http://magmapoetry.com/20th-century-poets/ : Did Britain Produce ANY Great 20th Century Poets? Written by Rob Mackenzie at 5:57 pm Laurie Smith's article in *Magma 42*<http://magmapoetry.com/archive/magma-42/>, '*The New Imagination*<http://magmapoetry.com/archive/magma-42/articles/the-new-imagination/>', explores whether truly great poetry might soon emerge in the UK for the first time in many years. It's an excellent article – well researched, controversial, and passionate. At one point in the article, Smith asks why all the "indisputably" great 20th century poets are either American or Irish. He cites: *T.S. Eliot Ezra Pound Wallace Stevens Robert Lowell Sylvia Plath W.B. Yeats Seamus Heaney* He suggests various British possibilities. On most lists would be: *Edward Thomas Wilfred Owen W.H. Auden Dylan Thomas Ted Hughes* and some would make a case for: *Basil Bunting William Empson Philip Larkin W.S. Graham R.S. Thomas* However, Smith feels their influence has been more limited than their American and Irish counterparts (he details why in *the article*<http://magmapoetry.com/archive/magma-42/articles/the-new-imagination/>). Do you agree with Laurie Smith's lists? For instance, does Ezra Pound, undeniably a great editor, also qualify as a great poet? Is Sylvia Plath's * Ariel* collection sufficient to justify her inclusion (her other work may be accomplished, but is it 'great?')? Are Edward Thomas and Wilfred Owen among the very best Britain has to offer? And if you were asked to pick the seven most influential poets of the 20th century, who would you choose? How many UK poets make the grade? The article goes on to examine the possibility of great UK poetry emerging in the years to come, but that's for another post… -- Andrew http://hispirits.blogspot.com/