Contemporary poets worth appreciating

Stephan Ansteyfrom Lowell, MA Associate, 6232 posts	on Mar. 14 2008 Hey Man, post a little review for me in the book review area!
Joe R Associate, 313 posts	on Mar. 14 2008 I nominate Leanne. Seriously, her work stands up to, and many times above, any contemporary work I've read. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb...keywords=leanne+hanson&x=0&y=0
Leanne Hansonfrom Just west of the lounge room Associate, 3708 posts	on Mar. 14 2008 Joe! My goodness, I didn't think it was possible but you've actually made me cry.
Stephan Ansteyfrom Lowell, MA Associate, 6232 posts	on Mar. 14 2008 Leanne absolutely deserves to be in the mix. I'll think of others. But just for a few minuts, I'd like to second Leanne and leave it at that.
Paradiso, Tracey Associate, 1902 posts	on Mar. 14 2008 Aye to Leanne.
Derma Kaputfrom Possum Grape, Arkansas Associate, 2156 posts	on Mar. 14 2008 1. writing a review seems like a lot of work to me. I'll think about it. 2. one day I'll purchase Leanne's book and see what all the fuss is about. I already expect it will be good. 3. how about putting some poet's forward that we don't actually know? Anyone? James Tate always works for me - any book, but particularly "Memoir of the Hawk." Surrealism at its finest and most hilarious. "Hip Logic" by Terrance Hayes is also worth picking up. He has an adventurous approach to his style of writing, and he makes it work. Might not be for everybody though.
Stephan Ansteyfrom Lowell, MA Associate, 6232 posts	on Mar. 14 2008 I was surprised how much I liked Carole Burnes book "An Episode of Buttons" but I dont' know where to find that online. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Episod...s/dp/1900397161
Mercieca, Andrew 2771 posts	on Mar. 15 2008 One of my personal favourites its the currently unpublished Kreiger Monaghatti, who uses the pen-name Oretes Paramour. His use of mythological motifs as both parable and metaphor is perhaps the best use I've seen of this powerful tool. And of course, it's hard to go past the lovely Leanne. Mos.
Derma Kaputfrom Possum Grape, Arkansas Associate, 2156 posts	on Mar. 15 2008 I'm actually having a difficult time finding work by either of those poets, but I will keep them in mind, as well as Leanne. Probably by this summer I'll be wanting to get a whole new batch of different poetry books to read, so I appreciate suggestions - and keep a list. Here's another book I highly recommend: "Playing the Black Piano" by Bill Holms. He's better known for some of his novelty stuff - like "How to Speak Minnesotan" - but the fact is, he's an excellent poet immersed in the icelandic traditions of his heritage. Which "Playing the Black Piano" explores in a wonderful way. My wife's former debate partner is his cousin, and she actually gave me the book. One of the best presents I ever received. The poetry itself is straightforward, leaning toward apt description and thought, but truly amazing in impact. At least in my opinion. Having time on my hands today, I'm going to reread it again. (My own stuff is in a major rut, so I need the inspiration!)
Leanne Hansonfrom Just west of the lounge room Associate, 3708 posts	on Mar. 15 2008 You'll find some rather interesting titles at Interactive Press (www.ipoz.biz) -- not all poetry but the owner, David Reiter, is a first class poet and a top bloke who makes a very fine cup of coffee. His book "Hemingway in Spain" is particularly worth a look.
Stephan Ansteyfrom Lowell, MA Associate, 6232 posts	on Mar. 16 2008 I would like to toss out the name Major Jackson as a poet that most folks haven't heard of but is well worth reading. I really enjoyed his "Leaving Saturn" .. I've read a bit of his second book "Hoops" but didn't buy it, due to the fact I suck.
Derma Kaputfrom Possum Grape, Arkansas Associate, 2156 posts	on Mar. 17 2008 I was easily able to find poems online by both David Reiter and Major Jackson - all of them very good. Often, what excites me about poetry is just how much really excellent stuff is being written today, all over the world - unfortunately, very few see it and it goes largely unacknowledged except in small communities of other poets. Further, the potential of all this great (but largely hidden) poetry to influence our own work, make us stretch as poets, is immense. One question, though: we may bemoan poetry's anemic sales record in the modern literary world, but how much of it do we ourselves actually purchase? How much poetry do we read from living poets? From poets whom we don't know online? Again, there's a vibrant world of poetry out there, both for sheer enjoyment and for study/inspiration. Not all of it is perfect, by any means, but often times it stretches into interesting directions that are worth exploring. A really good place to pick up chapbooks, if you're interested, is Effing Press out of Austin TX - you can find that online, though I think the website is currently down. If I recall, Scott Pierce's blog has the ordering info though. The press is his baby, and he does really high quality production work on a hand operated press. The poetry itself is usually pretty damn interesting and largely written by other Austin poets. Another good site for keeping up to date on current poets is Ron Silliman's blog. While he himself might not be a poet that is accessible to most tastes, his indepth commentary on current (and past) poetry is insightful and highly relevant. Well worth reading from time to time.
Joe R Associate, 313 posts	on Mar. 18 2008 I'd like to highlight Tomas Kinsella, a little sample here: http://www.irishcultureandcust...y/Kinsella.html I'm interested in reading his translation of the Táin Bó Cúailnge to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Táin_Bó_Cúailnge
Derma Kaputfrom Possum Grape, Arkansas Associate, 2156 posts	on Mar. 18 2008 Good link, good poetry - and it rhymes too! Not much celebrated contemporary poetry employs meter or rhyme these days - as I'm sure Leanne would be happy to point out. Here's a poet who does - Gjertrud Schnackenberg. A friend of mine lent me her compilation "Supernatural Love: Poems 1976-1992" a few years ago and it contained some of the most intricate, nuanced, and beautiful poetry I've ever read, tackling themes as large as history and as personal as grief. Incredible stuff. Check it out here: http://search.barnesandnoble.c...74527549/?itm=9
Leanne Hansonfrom Just west of the lounge room Associate, 3708 posts	on Mar. 19 2008 There are some very fine poets being published now by Small Change Press, which is basically just set up for a few quality chapbooks a year -- they're quite selective and hugely nice guys. I'm not tremendously fond of most of the stuff they're publishing, but that doesn't mean it's not good, it's just not my style (way too much haiku for a start!) Still, they have some great ideas and work very hard to promote poetry here. http://www.smallchangepress.com.au
Ryan Wilbur	on May 2 2008 I am so embarrassed...I don't know any of these poets...nor do I have any contemporaries to offer, but I will definitely be looking them up. This is of course excluding Leanne because I know her. Yours truly Ryan Barrientos Wilbur
Ruth Elliottfrom Neverwhere Associate, 763 posts	on June 9 2008 Franz Wright - one of the reasons I started writing. 'Walking to Martha's Vineyard' and 'God's Silence' are two of my most treasured books. SHAVING IN THE DARK How old is the sun today Where are the shoes of yesteryear What an evil potato goes through we can never know, but I'm beginning to resemble one Ah, a little light now It is the hour the moment when it becomes possible to distinguish a white thread from a black, so prayer begins I see a shadowy reflection now our fingers touch There's nothing like what is fragile and momentary as the pale yellow light along the windowsill in winter north of nowhere yet if it were not for winter nothing would get done would finally get done I've been all around this world and not to die in hell not to die in the flames of hell homeless with a cell phone please There's nothing like today And contributing one's atoms to the green universe how strange is that And some have managed to live in constant awareness that all things, every evil thing will be forgotten, dispensing to mourn for every radiant thing, and so seeing the radiance. I love him.... and of course Mary Oliver -- "Wild Geese" especially, I wear a charm on a neck lace to remind me of that poem "You do not have to be good...". um David Whyte as well - have a couple of his audio CDs. Viggo Mortensen (yum, AND he paints and writes, what's not to love?!), Billy Collins, Leanne Hanson - a particularly brilliant Aussie and and many many more - personally I think I read more contempory poetry than 'classics' ... ah well.