TEN NEW POETS.

The article discusses contemporary poetry with reference to ten new poets. Contrary to the opinions of many people, otherwise literate, who do not read contemporary poetry, this art is not in a dry season rather it is flourishing. Since a great many books of poetry are published every year, the problem for those who would like to keep up is to find where to begin. Here are ten first books, all published within the past two years. Few generalizations can be made that would encompass the variety of form, attitude, and purpose evident in this group. What is striking is that ten first books of such high quality should appear within this short period of time. These poets are more knowledgeable about their art, more conversant with the different possibilities available to them, less parochial, more sophisticated than might have been expected twenty, or ten, years ago. Perhaps our much-maligned creative writing programs should be given credit for this higher level of professionalism, since most of the poets being considered here have studied in such programs.