telling cover

There was a time in poetry publishing when you couldn’t just judge a book by its cover. Now it’s okay—no need to break open the book to read a poem or two before passing judgement.

person or the poetry

It’s the editor’s dilemma: The feeling that you’re not judging the poetry but the poet’s life.

judge unknown

He knew he was out of his times when he couldn’t recognize the name of the poet judging a major prize.

facile appraisal

He was one to judge a book by the author photo.

toss up

The judge said of the poetry books: All are equally good, and each indistinguishable from the other.

short and sweet

It’s easier to judge longer poems. Short poems are more difficult to rank for merit.

rule to judge

When, after having read a work, loftier thoughts arise in your mind and noble and heartfelt feelings animate you, do not look for any other rule to judge it by; it is fine and written in a masterly manner.

—La Bruyère, Characters (Oxford U. Press, 1962), translated by Henri Van Laun.

stare decisis

Some formalists are like those judges and legal scholars who are too enamored by stare decisis. Blindly in love with existing laws and tradition.