I'd say it is more a problem with "best of" collections than with poetry. Poetry has many camps at the moment, and no "best of" collection can give equal attention to all of them. The judges will always be influenced by their own preferences and what they themselves write. In some cases, they may care more about showcasing their friends than about trying to spread the attention around to people they don't know. It is regrettable, but human. I am not surprised. But neither do I ever buy a "best of" collection, unless it focuses on the kind of poetry that I like best.
Susan
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