On the occasion of the AWP23 happening next week in Seattle, I’d like to post about poetry and writing, specifically war-related poetry.
I’m a bit late in seeing this article in the Australian online magazine Quillette by Simon Evans about the supposed end of war poetry, but better post a riposte late than never, as I always say. After all, literature is timeless, right? I come to defend my fellow writers in arms. As many of you know, I’m a veteran and occasional poet myself, so I care about the reputation of the genre.
I am a big fan of Quilllette. They publish very interesting, timely, and often contrarian material and provide a platform for voices from all corners of society, not just official writers or experts. So, though initially intrigued to find this article about war poetry, I was disappointed in its contents. The author, a s…
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