Comments on: On Aram Saroyan, Bill Knott, And Ron Silliman

By: Matush Alepf

Matush Alepf — Wed, 14 May 2008 05:26:03 +0000

read the book.
than blog.
ok?

By: the poet

the poet — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:50:50 +0000

Rachel, good points. I think a lot of publishers follow the Williams Carlos Williams Award, more so than poets. Yes, the poetry world is like one big extended family – of black sheeps.

By: Rachel Fox

Rachel Fox — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:16:19 +0000

As so much of poetry is now removed from readers and audiences it is inevitable that it lives only in this world of prizes given by one poet to another, of magazines where poets are edited by…more poets. I don’t really know either of the poets you mention re this particular prize but I wonder…does anyone in the US even know about it (unless they’re a poet or wannabe poet)? The poetry world (especially the more academic side) is like some horrible big extended family with all the factions and feuds you would expect in such a scenario. Don’t you think?
Rachel Fox
Scotland (but I’m English…England’s a horrible big extended family too)

By: Jim Murdoch

Jim Murdoch — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:14:46 +0000

I have to say I skimmed over Silliman’s posts about this award. Most of the names mean nothing to me. I am well and truly out of the loop. But his choice did surprise me. If I can put it in musical terms, I wouldn’t be too upset if Brian Wilson’s ‘Smile’ won x or y award despite it’s age. From all accounts it was a decent enough album. BUT if ‘The Best of the Beach Boys Vol x-teen’ got the award I think I might have something to say. Sure, Saroyan’s work is worthy of some lifetime achievement award or something but that’s about it.