Alicia, in an interview I saw recently, you said you felt lucky to have been freed by your education in Classics from pressure to write poetry that is "new" or "original" (I hope I'm paraphrasing accurately).
I'm curious as to how far you would take this position. Do you think there is an authentic role in poetry (either poetry in general, or your own poetry) for any kind of "newness" --whether timeliness, innovation, or progress, either aesthetic or thematic?
I'm looking forward to reading your answer and the thoughts of others on this question, which as you know has often been turned into a bone of contention as far as formalism is concerned.
--Annie
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