Time for a list, but quite an interesting idea for a list, I think. As far as I can gather Jeff Newberry started it off, then Justin Evans, Andrew Shields and Steve Shroeder followed on.
Say someone asked me, "I kind of like poetry, but I don't know anything about contemporary poetry. Who should I read?"
I will be creating this list with a little restrictive creativity. No real life friends, no blog list names, no mentors or former teachers. All must be alive and kicking when this goes to press. I may know a few people, but e-mail is as far as that goes.
Here’s my list of 12 in no particular order:
1. Edwin Morgan
2. Wislawa Szymborska
3. Charles Simic
4. Sinead Morrissey
5. Philip Levine
6. Christopher Logue
7. Robert Crawford (the Scottish one)
8. Bernardine Evaristo
9. Seamus Heaney
10. Carol Ann Duffy
11. Stephen Dunn
12. Marilyn Hacker
My list is very different from the others (the UK/USA divide at work, despite three of my poets being American), although it's interesting how often Philip Levine is mentioned.
I never tag anyone by name, but if you want to do this, consider yourself tagged.
