Tim,
One excellent poet among us who doesn't have a distinctive voice is Alan Sullivan. That is partly because he has such a gift for mimesis. And the voice he most uncannily imitates is mine. I was just stuck with a mediocre, impenetrable, deep imagey poem in Mortal Stakes which Mark quotes above. It was a 12 liner, and then Alan grew it to 16 by composing lines 7-12. And who can tell the difference?
Believe me, I certainly noted it because it is notable, but I still thought it was you.
Susan,
Your post seems to contradict itself, but at the end you say, "So I think voice is a fascinating issue, but one that can't be boiled down to any simple rules or guidelines."----I don't think anyone is trying to boil anything down to to simple rules or guidelines.
I think poets (and in other art forms) should and do struggle to make their own style, something identifiable, which is in process bringing out their own voice. I think this element of style often matches where the individual is in their development of who they are, and what they want to do in life, and what kind of person they want to be, which may be bringing out the person, their inner voice there all along.
I just want to note that in the thread I started on general with the four different poets writing in the same unidentifiable style, this thread subsequently picks up on the same idea, but is staying on track much better.
TJ
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