What's it all About--Most Influential Poet

[Angeline]

I love our fearless kitty mama, Laurel. She has consistently supported poetry at Lit when, unlike stories, it's obviously not the big draw to the site. That's admirable.

I have a question though about the Most Influential Poet Award, and I'm interested in hearing what you all think. I'll post a link to this thread in the "Nominations Discussion" thread in the Awards Forum, too.

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My question is this--

What does Most Influential mean? Does it mean the person the nominator (or voter once nominations are announced) thinks writes the best poems? Is it the person who, talented poet or not in the voter's opinion, does the most for poetry at Lit over the course of the award year (e.g., sends feedback, is supportive and active on the forum, and so on)? Maybe it's a combination of the two or something else.

I think it's a combination myself. There is not a single poet nominated for the award this year whose poetry is weak, imo. But there are folks nominated who have only posted a few poems and/or have rarely been in the forum. I mean to take nothing from anyone nominated and am grateful for this incentive at all--nor do I think that participation in this forum need be a prerequisite for an award. Still it seems sort of unfair to me to put someone who posted a poem or two in 2003 (wonderful as that poem may be) up against someone who shows a commitment to poetry on this site every day.

Maybe there should be two special categories for poetry--most influential and best, since those two qualities are not likely found in a single person. I ask with respect for all involved with poetry at Lit--active board members or not.

So what do you all think? Please vote and offer comments.

 

[perks]

I voted for the person who influenced me the most as a poet. I took into consideration the writing of said poet and how it affected this board, this site, and specifically my writing.
I like a lot of poetry, but the poet I nominated was the key to unlocking part of my voice that had been silent for years. I find that to be incredibly influential.

I vote like this for a couple of reasons.

One, if a poet is influential to the entire board, and yet doesn't influence me, how am I using my vote? I'm in fact voting for other people's voices, then.

One vote, one voice. I interpret most influential poet to mean "most influential poet to me".

 

[Linbido]

Here are my 2c

The words are Influental, and Poet. So the most influental poet is the one who influenced me in his/her role as a poet, i.e the poetry he/she writes.

This does not nesscarily mean Best Poet either. There are many poets here just as good as my nominee, but none whose poems have inspired and influenced my own personal development in writing like she have. (Though a handful more were not far behind..) Yeah yeah, read the nominations thread, it's you, Angeline.

Others have inspired and been most helpful on a personal level, with feedback, support and encouragement. I'd like to nominate you all for something, but enough is enough.



Edited considering "Only a couple of poems"-poets to add that one major part of inspiring me is to be persisent, productive and bold enough to try on new forms, new ways of expression, and still contain one's voice. So a "Posted Five Masterpieces One Day In November" does not cut it, however good those were.

 

[WickedEve]

But there are folks nominated who have only posted a few poems and/or have rarely been in the forum. I mean to take nothing from anyone nominated and am grateful for this incentive at all--nor do I think that participation in this forum need be a prerequisite for an award. Still it seems sort of unfair to me to put someone who posted a poem or two in 2003 (wonderful as that poem may be) up against someone who shows a commitment to poetry on this site every day.

I'm sure many readers of lit poetry don't even know the poetry board exists. Some of "poets" of lit are posters, for instance, on the amateur pic thread, or whatever. Many other posters will nominate or vote for that poet simply because they like the person. I believe some of the nominations and votes will have nothing to do with poetry.

I honestly haven't given this whole influential poet thing much time or thought. I don't particularly get into this sort of thing. I love having my poetry recognized much more than the poet wicked eve. By the way, the poets that nominated me are truly influential poets and it makes me feel incredible that they thought enough of me to do that. That's my award.

Anyway, all of us should approach this as something fun. Each of us should remember that any recognition that our poetry receives on this board, or in public comments is our true awards. Votes don't mean much, by the way. We all know that now. lol

Many of you influence me daily. It may be an entire poem, a phrase, or just a word. It may be comments you leave me, or something you've said on this board. But all of us here are Influential Poets.

 

[Maria2394]

I propose a new category too--Poet Diplomatnd my vote goes to Eve

everything you said and more

and angeline peacekeeper of the board

and perks, rowdy tell it like it is even if it hurts,

yeah WE, I guess we all have a little something...

at my daughters orchestra grad ceremony, they had for the seniors, the girls all came up with an honorary title for the ones that were moving on...maybe I can find one for everybody

but a most important thing in my opinion is that someone says, hey, you put your words together pretty good, you have an interesting story to tell, maybe not much time to tell it, but

I am here to listen...

 

[OT]

Call me a stick in the mud, but I don't like to vote for such things. It hurts my head too much.

I read to be entertained and challenged.

Poems (and Poets) who influence me are those that write or think in ways that I cannot.

Influence me "most" ? that's like which of my sons do I like best.

No disrespect intended for those nominated or the eventual winner. My angst lies in choosing "the best". It just doesn't seem like a good place to spend energy.

 

[Angeline]

Yup yup yup

OT, these "competitions" always make me slightly queasy. On the one hand, I'm glad we have the award--it draws attention to poetry here, gets folks' poems read, makes us feel recognized. On the other hand (and I say this wanting y'all to understand I'm genetically predisposed to guilt), there really is no single person who is most influential. Some seem more influential--the way I interpret it--than others. Last year I won--and I was proud and grateful, but part of me felt awful because I know who I think the most influential poet was at Lit in 2002, and she's in this thread, but she ain't me.

Certainly there's a group of people on this board--and everyone who posted in this thread so far is in that group--who influence each other. And that's why I come here--because you people are a good influence. If annaswirls didn't have that silly salad dressing idea, I'd never have written the poem I posted today, same for Tess and her Still STC. When Linbido (whom I smoochie woochie for the nomination , lol) posted Branches and Twigs, it gave me a fresh perspective on illustrated poems. And on and on.

So we influence each other. The word "influential" bugs me because I think we probably interpret it in a number of ways--and what does an award mean if there's no common criteria for selecting the winner?

Maybe there's a better word. Maybe I'm just venting cause I'M HOMEBOUND (oops lol) with kids again (it's the cabin fever). Anyway, thanks and keep on opining.

 

[Rybka]

What Perks and Lin Said!

The words are Influental, and Poet. So the most influental poet is the one who influenced me in his/her role as a poet, i.e the poetry he/she writes.

This does not nesscarily mean Best Poet either. There are many poets here just as good as my nominee, but none whose poems have inspired and influenced my own personal development in writing like she have. (Though a handful more were not far behind..) Yeah yeah, read the nominations thread, it's you, Angeline.

Others have inspired and been most helpful on a personal level, with feedback, support and encouragement. I'd like to nominate you all for something, but enough is enough.

There are so many poets who have helped and influenced me that I could not nominate any single person. Fortunately others have nominated them. Now my problem will be in deciding which single poet to vote for.

With regards to the poll, I would say my criteria would be a combination of numbers two and four.

 

[annaswirls]

IMHO

If ee cummings posted a single poem on lit, I do not think I would vote for him as most influential poet on lit even though he is my favorite.

If my brother posted a 100 sucky poems but I loved them and they influenced me because he was my brother, I would vote him most influential brother, not most influential poet.

I agree with Perks with the one voice, one vote, but I think that my one voice, while not representing others, has been asked to think about who influences poetry at lit the most, not me in general... that is how I read it at least. BTW Perk's nomination fits the shoes no matter how the cake is sliced, diced or smashed.

hmm

Good question Ange.

One thing I know for sure is that while I was very flattered and honored, my nomination should not count (not sure if that is what Ange was referring to?) especially since I was only here since December. Not much time for a year!


Humbly yours,

Anna

 

[Angeline]

Re: IMHO

If ee cummings posted a single poem on lit, I do not think I would vote for him as most influential poet on lit even though he is my favorite.

If my brother posted a 100 sucky poems but I loved them and they influenced me because he was my brother, I would vote him most influential brother, not most influential poet.

I agree with Perks with the one voice, one vote, but I think that my one voice, while not representing others, has been asked to think about who influences poetry at lit the most, not me in general... that is how I read it at least. BTW Perk's nomination fits the shoes no matter how the cake is sliced, diced or smashed.

hmm

Good question Ange.

One thing I know for sure is that while I was very flattered and honored, my nomination should not count (not sure if that is what Ange was referring to?) especially since I was only here since December. Not much time for a year!


Humbly yours,

Anna

God no!!!! I don't mean to suggest that any one person's nomination shouldn't count. Oh boy, if you knew me in real life--I'm the most laid-back person in the world, lol. Everything is ok by me (as long as you're nice--a philosophy for which my children endlessly mock me--oh and use proper grammar--my two life rules ).

I just just feel--as Rybka said so well--that so many here are influential in different ways. Yet we're all lumped in this one category. And I appreciate you all. And I want to see everyone recognized.

Ok, Laurel--that's it. You just have to let us all win.