I've had a hard time with poetry lately, not its overall purpose, but how we are made to see it in the grand scheme of things. Poetry, in contemporary study, is relegated to Literature departments, which is fine for the study of written poetry, but seems grossly inappropriate concerning the writing of poetry. In my experience most creative writing programs are housed within English departments and most creative writing degrees are founded upon a certain level of academic literary study. Though I do not feel this a complete waste of time, it brings up a fundamental question: Can good poetry come from the minds of people who are taught to be critics first and poets second?
I've been thinking about this a lot lately, mostly because I have to be a critic again in order to complete the final requirement for my MA degree, but have been enjoying the process of learning to read and write poetry as a more art centered dialogue...creating experience, finding truth in that experience (regardless of its actual truthiness), and using poetry as a medium to create art. I'm sure this sounds ridiculous...in fact, I know it does, but if you read any Frank O'Hara or young John Ashbery you'll see what I mean.
In all honesty I don't know exactly how I feel about this yet, but its a conversation I'm looking forward to having with anyone who would like to.

In the meantime, look at this...