Sven Birkerts once published an essay about Ashbery that I still find worth revisiting, even if I can't find it just now. In the essay, Birkerts quite carefully dissects what you might call "the Ashbery bag of tricks." In the process, he manages to make an interesting case for poetry. I will have to find that essay again!

I don't know that I agree with the quotation provided. Why should art be difficult to talk about? I mean, as a rule, why should artists strive only to make art that is unintelligible? What is the driving force of such a project?

You're the seer, Cassandra . . . let me see what compelled you to post this note. I must admit, you have me curious.

Herring405