According to the nineteenth-century English historian Thomas Babbington Macauley, “As civilization advances, poetry almost necessarily declines.” How do poets see themselves and the function of poetry in contemporary American culture? The first segment is a conversation with Archie Ammons.
In the second segment [13:50], poets Emily Grosholz and Michael McFee discuss poetry and read from their own work.
At the time of this interview, Ammons was professor of English at Cornell University.
Grosholz, a Fellow at the National Humanities Center (1985-86), was professor of philosophy at Pennsylvania State University. McFee was poet-in-residence at Cornell University.
This edition of Soundings was conducted by Wayne J. Pond.
