There’s been some recent buzzing about a perceived crisis in literary and poetic criticism.

It’s somewhat depressing to think about. I’ve spent a bit of time complaining about how the New York Times never reviews poetry. Frankly, there is no widely read publication that will reliably cover poetry. Sure, a paper or periodical will occasionally review something, but it’s invariably by an aging lion of poetry or a re-issue or translation of something by someone dead. Very frustrating. And yes, it probably does contribute to the failure to build a decent culture of criticism.

Where’s Calvin Trillin when you need him?