(okay, wasn’t trying to be a jerk-face. anyhoo)

This interview was quite dope-tastic. I really wanna read the questions you didn’t answer. And maybe a little bit more on the troubles of starting a press and journal, which is a journey I am about to embark on.

Though, I disagree in general with the majority on the whole “poetry popularity” thing. I think with the right game-plan and the right group of poets, poetry’s popularity can be on the rise again. Well, less its popularity and more its importance. I remember when Saul Williams was ‘everywhere’, and it truly did help to remind everyone that poetry is here. In high schools it is quite surprising how important the arts are to kids. More so than when I was in high school. This is exciting. Very. And I think maybe they need us older cats to realign our thoughts, maybe. I don’t think poetry must be in the same style as Saul Williams to be popular. Just think maybe all us poets need to get on the same page… this isn’t a popularity contest, true. And ‘more known’ doesn’t automatically equal ‘better’ at all. But remember when poets used to be interviewed by Rolling Stone. Friggin rockstars? Wasn’t that long ago. The 60s. People are still alive from that era, rocking the world. So I’d rather not become complacent with how things are. We should not take a step back, but observe how it was done in the past, analyze maybe the ‘whys’, and then kick down the door to the future you know?

‘I have no problem navigating the poetry scene, it’s not difficult for me to disregard something that’s not my cup of tea or even something I consider a cup of pee.’

Haaaaa

verification words for this comment: gisela it

My point is that as poets and publishers, we need to accept this, and embrace the positives of such a position, like the freedom it allows one to create the work she really wants to create. Since poets aren’t marketable, we shouldn’t focus on it. If you have novel popularity envy, then write a novel.

Seems like you’re saying here that Billy Collins is included in those who don’t read ANY poetry. If that’s what you meant, let me just tell you that I know Billy Collins, very well, and have access to his library. I can tell you that the man reads poetry morning, noon, and night. He never goes anywhere without a book or magazine (and his notebook, of course). I suspect that all poets who are consistently writing quality poems (I’m going to exclude Ms. Angelou from this group) are also consistently reading quality poems written by others. Poetry, for them, is a river. Words flow in, words flow out. If you think this isn’t true, you’re wrong.

If, however, you were saying that very few people read poetry except for “superstar” poets, I still say you are wrong. Poets who are immersed in writing and in being poets DO read others’ work. Sadly, that’s about the extent of the audience for poetry, which deserves wider distribution. If more poems had wider appeal (say, the tremendous appeal of a Billy Collins poem), the audience would widen. One man can do only so much alone, no matter how cool and on track he is.

Go, Reb!