Rose:
When someone states that something represents "some of the best of" and then exclude an entire category without explanation, that raises troubling issues for me. If this had been called "The Cream of the Metrical/Formal Crop" or, more accurately, "Highlights from The Deep End in 2004," then at least there would be truth in advertising. I find it hard to believe that not a single poem posted on the FV board in the entire year is included. Not one. I find this particularly galling when I learn that not every poem selected was even submitted for consideration in the first place.
If you want to write to the publishers of The Best American Poetry series, I would encourage you to do so. Or do what I do and vote with your wallet--don't buy it.
I'm sorry if you feel "guilty"--it was certainly not my intention to disparage what IS there. I simply wanted to raise some concerns about what has been so obviously excluded. I stopped writing poetry altogether, and this example of the poetry world in action just reinforces my own particular feeling that I have made the right choice for me.
Tom
[This message has been edited by nyctom (edited November 29, 2004).]
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