Which living poets do you read? Whose work means the most to you? Are living poets important?

Question

Bonus question: What is your annual poetry budget?

Answer 1

i am answering this in spite of your somewhat unpleasant user name....

of course living poets are important - every living poet turns into a dead poet one day.  do i read very many living poets?  no, almost none.  for the most part i don't appreciate contemporary poetry, but it's most likely that i don't know any of the good stuff; i have sometimes read living poetry from foreign poets that i have enjoyed.

i do not have a poetry budget.  i haven't bought any poetry in years.

Answer 2

Right now I'm utterly in love with Lorna Dee Cervantes- I love her diction and style, which is both thought-provoking and beautiful.  A.E. Stallings' work is also wonderful, but I'm having mixed feelings about her at the moment.  I've also started reading Carl Philips, whose work is frustrating, yet delightful.  I actually had the opportunity to meet him and listen to him discuss his works a couple of months ago.  Overall, however, I value Cervantes' work most.

I definitely believe living poets are important.  Writing, especially poetry, constantly evolves, and an analysis of poetry as a medium cannot rely solely on the works of dead poets.

As for my annual poetry budget, I'm not sure whether you're referring to how many poems I read, or how many I write.  I usually go through about 5-6 volumes of poetry a year as a reader, but I only churn out 20 or so poems of my own, unfortunately.

Answer 3

I love Maya Angelou.  Her work is raw and inspiring.  She speaks to the past, present and future.

Living poets are absolutely important.  As a poet (amateurish, though I may be) we still have a lot to say.  And we should continue to say it....not every one is a poet and not every one has the means to say it the way a poet says it.  POETS OF THE WORLD.....WRITE!!!!

Answer 4

please comment on my poem

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 5

John Ashbery

Wendy Cope

Jorie Graham

Eric Pankey

They all mean something to me, but in different ways. If they're good, they are important, irrespective of whether they are still alive.

I do not stint myself on books. Whenever I see a book of poetry I want I buy it.