I think Philip makes a good point, but the issue isn't that simple. We'd all like to have it both ways, to assert that some writers are simply better than others, no matter what anyone thinks, while at the same time affirming that the most important thing is the undeniable connection between the writer and reader, not some supposedly objective appraisal. We all know some of the poets mentioned that belong on any list like this, but the lesser known ones, the more idiosyncratic choices, are often more interesting.
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