[John Whitworth]

I'm sure Rossini could make a fine opera out of a laundry list. But he would have to make it. This guy doesn't make anything. As I said, he needs to be killed or at least kicked. But I expect he'd like that - the kicking I mean.

[Shaun J. Russell]

Originally Posted by Ed Shacklee

Rose said much of what I would think, if I were so thoughtful. Even when they make me gag or recoil, I don't find it difficult to forgive a good poet for bad prose or interviews, or even posing, largely because I'll forget all that -- it's the good poems I'll remember; the gold, not the dross. Has Goldsmith written good poems? If not, why is he being interviewed by Poetry?

Ed

I can agree with that.

In most cases, when I read poetry I want to take anything I know about the poet himself out of the equation. Likewise with most art forms. Obviously the artist is worthy of the praise, derision or apathy that his art provokes, but when going in to the experience, I want there to be nothing in my mind but the art. So often does the artist color the perception.

Having said all that, I'm sure I'd think Goldsmith's work was the work of a pretentious, posturing agent provocateur regardless.