genre error

Nothing is more off-putting than a poet disappointed about how poetry (theirs in particular) is not being widely noticed.

only a footnote

He wrote the kind of poetry that would never accrete any lasting acclaim but might hang on for a time as a footnote.

shadow workforce

America doesn’t know how many really good poets it has, doing fine work in the shadows, without public attention.

fair question

What is the quality of your audience?

bubble blurbs

Blurbs are like bubbles, little effusive bursts that the author hopes will buoy the book.