[Rhina P. Espaillat]

I would like to say, for the record, that I commented on every one of the poems that Tim Murphy forwarded to me--all 18 of them. I did not "choose" which to comment on, I simply commented on all of what I was presented. If there had been any free verse poems--and I wish there had been some!--I would certainly have commented on those too.

I would have said this on the "Deck the Halls" thread, but I see it's closed, and I want to be sure everyone knows that I am far from a freeversophobe. One of my two favorite living poets, Stanley Kunitz, is primarily a free verser. The other is, of course, Richard Wilbur.

In fact, I occasionally write the stuff--as those of you know who have my most recent book, "The Shadow I Dress In"--and would love to be better at it than I am.

[nyctom]

Dear Rhina:

Thank you for the clarification--and confirmation! Not to mention the insightful commentary. It is all very much appreciated.

Enjoy the holiday season.

Tom

[This message has been edited by nyctom (edited November 30, 2004).]

[Donna English]

Rhina, Thank you for separating the facts from the fiction. I'm sorry you weren't able to read more of the fine offerings of metrical and free verse poems; your skills as a writer, reader and critic are why we submitted our poems for consideration. Thanks again for clarifying that you appreciate good poetry no matter what the form.

Kind Regards,
Donna

[Lo]

Originally posted by fivefootone:
Rhina, Thank you for separating the facts from the fiction. I'm sorry you weren't able to read more of the fine offerings of metrical and free verse poems; your skills as a writer, reader and critic are why we submitted our poems for consideration. Thanks again for clarifying that you appreciate good poetry no matter what the form.

Kind Regards,
Donna

Rhina,

I second Donna here.....the only reason I sent anything at all was because I was under the mistaken impression that you, yourself, would be the one making the "final cut" so to speak. Seems I may have read it wrong, however, which is no reflection on you, only on my own ability to read something and comprehend what's really being said.
I've always much admired your skills as a poet, your honesty as a critter, and your graciousness as a human being.
I dont know too many "ladies". I'm not even sure I know what makes a "lady"....I'm pretty sure you're one, tho.

Lo

[This message has been edited by Lo (edited November 30, 2004).]

[Tim Murphy]

For the record, I don't know where Carol got the idea that I had sent a far larger number to Rhina. That's just a misunderstanding my being on a boat kept me from correcting. I had expected Rhina to choose eight to twelve of the eighteen I forwarded for comment, in which case she would have made the final cut. However, she was kind enough to comment on all of them. Evidently she felt she had to work harder to earn the munificent honorarium Alex is paying! Two poems, one of them a very shapely free verse, came in after my departure, and we'll save them for another occasion. They were very strong, and I regret they didn't come in earlier.

[Carol Taylor]

I had no idea how many poems you'd sent, Tim. You'd told me that Rhina would select the ones she wanted to comment on from among those you'd sent her and would forward them to me for posting while you were gone. I knew you were hoping for maybe 10 or 12 poems for the board. When she told me she was sending me 18 I thought it an incredibly generous number. Thank God you didn't send her two hundred--she might be commenting on them till Christmas!

Carol

[Tim Murphy]

I would guess I received about seventy-five, and I thought eighteen was plenty to burden Rhina with. Some of those I sent I figured she would decline to comment on. Instead she has offered penetrating observations, from which I hope the poets will profit.

[Rhina P. Espaillat]

I commented on all of them because I felt "spoken to" by all of them, and wanted to reply--and enjoyed doing so! Thank you, Lo and Donna and Nyctom, for your warm messages. And Tim, for the massive job of reading all of what came in and sending me a manageable number! What should be noted next year is that we'd like poems from poets of every kind. Of course, that will give Tim eyestrain, but in the service of the Muse, you'll risk it, right?

I'm finding the comments on all the various threads smart and perceptive, especially when they offer advice to the poets: ideally, this should lead to some fruitful revision.
That's something I'm swimming in right now, having had my knuckles rapped--but very lovingly--by poet friends, over two poems with murky lines in them that need cleaning up.