Hi Folks,
I entirely agree about the selecteds and collecteds, but I think I've given enough rules and don't want to be to constrictive. There are poets such as Weldon Kees who are only available today in a collected poems, and, given his early death, the volume is slim enough and good enough to stand up as a book of poems.
On the other hand, you are right on, Max, that I was hoping that this thread would help to identify some books that really stand up as books. I like the idea of the book itself as a genre, well and inventively constructed. On the other hand, some of my favorite individual books, and there are many, are faves simply because such a high percentage of the poems (i.e., Yeats--thanks, Andrew) are simply brilliant.
Oh, and John, not to nudge, but can I ask you to edit your post to give it this title: 4. Philip Larkin, The Whitsun Weddings
?
That'll identify it as one of the "100."
Thanks!
T
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