The Editors respond:
Because of space limitations, we have had to edit Belle Randall's excellent letter, which balanced her critique of the back half of the magazine with praise for the poems. We're grateful for both, the criticism and the praise. In point of fact, though, Poetry has always prided itself on being inclusive. Harriet Monroe herself set the tone for the magazine with her “Open Door” policy, which appeared in the second issue. Besides making clear that the only standard for the poems would be excellence (and much of what she published was not at all “modern”), she explicitly stated that the back half of the magazine would not be “confined to one set of editorial opinions.” Indeed, she encouraged and often contributed to an atmosphere of intelligent and mostly well-mannered clamor. She thought it a sign of literary health and vigor, as do we.
Because of space limitations, we have had to edit Belle Randall's excellent letter, which balanced her critique of the back half of the magazine with praise for the poems. We're grateful for both, the criticism and the praise. In point of fact, though, Poetry has always prided itself on being inclusive. Harriet Monroe herself set the tone for the magazine with her “Open Door” policy, which appeared in the second issue. Besides making clear that the only standard for the poems would be excellence (and much of what she published was not at all “modern”), she explicitly stated that the back half of the magazine would not be “confined to one set of editorial opinions.” Indeed, she encouraged and often contributed to an atmosphere of intelligent and mostly well-mannered clamor. She thought it a sign of literary health and vigor, as do we.
The editorial staff of the Poetry Foundation. See the Poetry Foundation staff list and editorial team masthead.