Round 16

Yusef: "Open Door Blues by Stephen Dunn

Bob: "Midsummer" by Diane Di Prima

I hate Stephen Dunn's poetry, and might be expected to prefer DdP. However, Dunn's chatty, genial poem makes me think of a lesser James Schuyler: "I've left the door open. The flies / know. The wasps will soon." Di Prima makes me feel like I'm in Sunday School:

Prayer at the stillness of noon.
A pause at the balancing point
Grace of the ascent ...

A weakness in Creeley: poets of his own generation, even when they're not doing their best work. Yusef wins the round! Proving once again my total objectivity and fairness.

After 16

4-9-3