[Janet Kenny]

Most Popular Contemporary Poets on Poets.org!!!


Summer 2006

1. Maya Angelou

2. Donald Hall

3. Billy Collins

4. Louise Glück

5. Sharon Olds

6. Nikki Giovanni

7. Mary Oliver

8. Ted Kooser

9. Adrienne Rich

10. Richard Wilbur

[Robert J. Clawson]

In that it starts with Maya, I'm amazed that a few good poets made the list.

Bob

[Quincy Lehr]

C,mon, Bob, Giovanni and Olds are way, way worse than Angelou.

[oliver murray]

Originally posted by Quincy Lehr:
C,mon, Bob, Giovanni and Olds are way, way worse than Angelou.

That's why they are lower down on the list!

[David Landrum]

Originally posted by Janet Kenny:
Most Popular Contemporary Poets on Poets.org!!!


Summer 2006

1. Maya Angelou

2. Donald Hall

3. Billy Collins

4. Louise Glück

5. Sharon Olds

6. Nikki Giovanni

7. Mary Oliver

8. Ted Kooser

9. Adrienne Rich

10. Richard Wilbur

How absolutely depressing (except number ten).

[nyctom]

Interesting list. I like quite a few of the poets on that list--including Nikki Giovanni and Sharon Olds (My Father in particular is very moving).

It does seem that a guarantee of internet popularity is to become US Poet Laureate. Which reveals well something or other.

[Julie Steiner]

Perhaps it means that popularity = name recognition.

Yes, name recognition could mean that the poet's work is of a caliber and/or topicality desirable for anthologies, but more likely it means that his or her public persona extends into the mainstream, for whatever reason. Maya Angelou's frequent Oprah appearances and continuous, very entertaining speaking tours (she just had one in San Diego, and she was a keynote speaker at a religious education conference I attended 20 years ago) probably have a lot more to do with her #1 ranking than her poetry publications do. And although I love Wilbur's shorter poems, he is more likely on this list based on his theatrical work. JMHO, of course.

Julie Stoner

PS--I must admit that two of Sharon Olds' poems are among my favorites, although I can't stand most of her stuff.

[Jerry Glenn Hartwig]

Perhaps it means that popularity = name recognition.

Duh. (Sorry, Julie *grin*). Why do politicans put ot so many yard signs? People look at the ballot: Oh, I've seen that name before, so he must be good!

I know; I have a low opinion of people, in general.

[Ethan Anderson]

Maya and Donald also make and ship out way better holiday cookies than the rest of the people on this list. The other eight make up for it with volume, volume, volume.

[Michael Cantor]

Oh c'mon guys, stop with the sneering. None of these poets are dramatically awful, and all of them have written some good stuff along with the dreck - as we all have. It's a pop poetry indication - what the hell did you expect? And actually, considering the idiotic drivel that rules our reality TV shows and most of the sitcoms - and who we elected President - this list of popular poets is not all that bad as a reflection of national taste levels. I wish our flicks, our TV and our present government were as good.



[This message has been edited by Michael Cantor (edited September 07, 2006).]