First, thanks to my guest lariats: Stallings, Steele, Mezey, Gwynn, Espaillat and Hecht. I have hosted one of the most gifted young poets to come along in a generation, two of the foremost poets of my generation, and most valuably, three senior sages: Espaillat, Mezey, and Hecht. To me the high point of this forum has been Tony's advice to young Jason. Fall successively in love with the work of one poet after another. That is his prescription for the education of a young poet, and that has been the pattern for every poet I know and admire. That, and the commandment to memorize--"and I repeat, learn a great deal of verse by heart." BY HEART! Advice I have been dishing out to all of you since I joined the 'Sphere.
Second, thanks to Shameless O'Clawson, Conny, and Alan for their recent expressions of support for this enterprise.
Third, a thank you to Carol, our Duchess, who splashed cold water on the notion of a chat room and gave Alex and Tim the kernel of a notion for this forum.
Our next Lariat will be Paul Lake, poet, critic, teacher, and ingenious novelist, who has served ably as our moderator on Met I. He will be followed by Greg Williamson. I refer all of you to Alan's luminous and illuminating essay on Williamson just posted on Richard's "Discerning Eye" board. Next year I hope to host David Mason, then a promising, unknown youngster named Richard Wilbur, then our own Mike Juster, Catherine Tufariello, etc.
your lariat, Tim
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