I am sympathetic to your concerns. I think there are a few different functions of criticism, and it is interesting to reflect upon which of these is the most use for us as readers. I am often appreciative of a kind of apologetic approach to criticism, as there is still so much that I don’t fully understand, and if a substantial critique is taken up by a writer, I hope that the critique is as constructive as it is critical. I, myself, avoid critique unless I can see it offering some fresh thought that hasn’t been played out vitriolically in some past public forum (see Vanessa’s review of Credit for a good example of this approach). I do hope more critiques of this kind are forthcoming, but in the meantime, I genuinely hope you find a forum to offer the kind of criticism that you think is worthy of the effort.

All best,

Christina

Yes, I think you are correct. Ramke’s poems are interestingly textured this way, as there often seems to be a “flattening out” of time, as history mixes itself with history, and that which is not yet history.

Thank you for your insight.

Christina

Dear Editors,

Compelled by the concept of the publication and the works being looked at, and urged along by the Fence mailing list, I’ve had a look at a few of the reviews printed here. What I have found are 6 (maybe it was 7) rave reviews of new books of poetry, spectacularly written. I’m all for focusing on the positive, but I now have the difficult-to-shake impression that probably comes with watching someone play solitaire with a loaded deck of cards.

I’m not sure how it looks from the inside, but from the outside American poetry has long since acquired the traits of something like Rumanian architecture under Ceauşescu − that same self-defeating, self-perpetuating combination of the mediocre, in-bred and irrelevant. More than − or at least as much as − (self-)congratulatory reviews isn’t what we need some powerful, driven criticism? Wouldn’t a forum like this be the perfect opportunity to offer it? Insight instead of ingratiation? To somehow make poetry relevant again?

Perhaps a ridiculous suggestion. Thanks in advance for taking the time to consider it anyway.

Sincerely,
Chris