[New-Poetry] Il Miglior Fabbro

[Bob Grumman]

David Graham wrote:
> Not to dispute Pound's influence, but I'd say Whitman is il miglior 
> fabbro in American poetry.  Even Pound had to grudgingly admit him as 
> a father.

My quick response would be that Pound influenced many different kinds of 
poetry, Williams only one.  As I wrote that, I only then saw you said 
Whitman.  Whitman influenced Ginsberg.  Seriously, it's difficult to say 
how much and how each influenced American Poetry.  A lot of contemporary 
poetry has nothing in common with Whitman, but I can't think of much 
that has nothing in common with Pound.  Another problem with Whitman is 
figuring out what he passed on that wasn't Emerson.  Except for the 
psalmic style. 

I'm just thinking out loud.  But I was talking what Pound did as poet, 
critic, editor, agitator, befriender, not about how influential he was.

--Bob G.