Joseph Epstein, writing for Poetry Magazine:
If I were poet laureate I would put a poem in every pair of pajamas, fortune cookie, and National Hockey League game program published during my tenure. Which is my coarse, jokey-jakey way of saying that poetry cannot really be promoted — only appreciated.
Poetry is caviar — an acquired taste, and not for most people, not even for some highly intelligent people — and I happen to believe it demeans it to sell it as if it were hot dogs. Many of the poets laureate have, I fear, seen the job as calling for slapping on the mustard while moving the dogs along. Even bringing poetry into grammar and high schools is probably a mistake. I am reminded here that Willa Cather, while she was alive, insisted that no school editions of her novels or stories be printed, lest kids be forced to read her under so-called educational conditions and never read her again as adults when they were really ready for her. Sounds smart to me.
What do you think? Does being taught poetry in school kill (or potentially kill) enjoyment of it later? Does being introduced to poetry in school encourage (or potentially encourage) enjoyment of it later? Discuss??