Twice yesterday I saw honesty invoked...

Does anyone really think Vendler can be honest because she's not a poet? Once she invests a certain amount of time promoting someone's career, she can't really change her mind or stop writing blurbs for the person, even if she sees the poet's work going downhill. On the other hand, honesty is overrated. To say I'm bored by some unknown poet's work might be honest, but also pointless and cruel. To expect Vendler to be open to work of 30-year old poets would be expecting a lot, since the clock probably stopped for her a long time ago. I wouldn't trust her judgment on any poet under 50 or 60. Not to say she isn't perceptive or eloquent about the poets she does like.