the Greater Nomadic Council

Defending Ashbery

Mike Snider, mystified by people who enjoy Ashbery, sparked a discussion that has Ashbery fans falling over themselves to state why they find his poetry good and valuable. I've already posted some of my comments there, so I won't repeat myself, but check out the discussion. Although I don't think Ashbery is among the highest ranks of poets (difficult company to break into), he's nevertheless an excellent and highly unique poet. His best poems do something stunningly original and remarkably well.