Since When Is Poetry Not Contentious?

Much has been made of the political difficulties being faced by the formerly tiny Chicago-based Poetry magazine, since it was the surprise recipient of a $100 million bequest last year. Philip Marchand is a bit surprised by the tone of some of the press coverage: “According to [one] story, the gift is ‘sowing discord in the normally harmonious realm of verse.’ Normally harmonious realm of verse! Where did the reporter, Robert Frank, ever get that idea? Read some literary history, Mr. Frank. Poets have been at each other’s throats since the invention of the sonnet, and several centuries previous to that.”