Abstract

The Bricklayer's Art

Poetry anthologies are among the most political tools in literature in their form, content and intent. The publication of one creates anticipation and joy mixed with heated debate, criticism and the sense that a group of poets is suddenly in a short-lived spotlight. Historical, groundbreaking anthologies like writer Donald Allen's classic "The New American Poetry 1945-1960," and "Naked Poetry," edited by Stephen Berg and Robert Mezey, may no longer be possible to gather, the field is so rich in volumes. "The Best American Poetry," has consistently been the most elitist of anthologies, despite the inclusion of a few new naples in each volume. The questions of inclusion and exclusion, as decided by art editor and the influence of certain poets, arise on a deeper level with "Holy Fire: Nine Visionary Poets and the Quest for Enlightenment," an odd and intense book put together by longtime Ecco Press editor Daniel Halpern.