[William A. Baurle]

Roger,

You seem to be agreeing with me on one hand and disagreeing on the other.

I agree that the semantic debate, ie "What is poetry", or "What is a poem?" is pointless. If a person makes a poem and calls it a poem, it's a poem, not a shmoem, whether you or I like it or not.

The discussion that merits attention is, like you say (and like I said), whether or not a poem is good or bad, whether it's a thing of value or a trifle not worth considering or spending too much time on.

Where the hell are the free verse poets who make up a big portion of what makes Eratosphere the site that it is?

I would like to hear from them as much as from the diehard formalists.

**Edited in: Roger, I imagine you were not being serious about your shmoem idea. I haven't lost my sense of humor quite yet.