[New-Poetry] Does Poetry Have A Social Function?

[Bob Grumman]

Sorry, Alex, but I'm never being ironic when I plunk down for art for art's 
sake.  I grew up on Keats and Wilde--and Nietzsche who famously said that 
without music, life would be a mistake.  When I hear about poetry's "social 
function," I always think of Puritans who want everything to contribute to 
food on the table and roofs over heads, and their left-wing descendants.  I 
don't think anything is more important than the beauty the best poetry 
provides us.  I think only truth equal to it.  These two things are all I 
live for; the "necessities" are necessary, but only to allow me (and 
humanity) to get to what really counts.

I do think poetry has social functions, but so does everything else--and it 
bothers me to hear poetry defended because it has them.  One is invigorating 
the language, a second breaking people free from settled outlooks.  Among 
others.

No more.  I really do have Important Things to get done!

--Bob G.