It bugs me when in one of the short bios that appear after a poem, the poet seems to list every journal and magazine that ever published them. I read a bio the other day where the poet listed 14 publishing credits. (Then also she listed her degrees, fellowships and awards.) This was an ezine, a good one, a monthly with five or six other poets in the issue. Still. It's not like you're applying for a job. Or accepting the Nobel prize. I felt she was daring me not to like her poem, which I didn't have any more time to read.
In other news, I'm still reading The Gulag Archipelago. It's long.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
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5 comments:
Yes, it's a bit pointless. A few of the best recent publications or achievements is plenty. I do like a short bio with publications though, as it sometimes introduces me to good,new zines.
oh, you make me chuckle. I especially gag at the lists of academic credentials.
Sheesh, Sarah -
If they didn't supply their credentials, how on earth would you know if their poetry was any good?
We must have some way of sorting mindless rambling from art.
Rob, I also like to know a couple of their publications, but it gets a bit much at about, say, seven. More than that, I like to know something about the poet.
Rachel, yeah, can't write a poem without them!
Carl, you are right. Silly me. I probably don't even need to read the poem anymore.
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