In looking to contemporary poets who write formal poetry, who would you suggest, that new writers read?
AE: That’s a difficult one because taste is so subjective. However I like Molly Peacock, Rachel Hadas, A.E. Stallings and Natasha Trethewey. Speaking of African American poets, Major Jackson has done some interesting things with form. The contemporary old guard are also still aroundpoets like Richard Wilbur, X.J. Kennedy, Rhina Espaillat and Daniel Hoffman. But really, what I would recommend is reading the formal poetry small press journalsMeasure, the Raintown Review, and of course the Barefoot Muse. When a poem by a particular writer strikes you deeply, then you can investigate as to whether they have books or chapbooks for sale. WG: Despite the fact that you publish Barefoot Muse, you also write free verse, as your book Swimming attests. Can you elaborate a little on your own approach to writing free verse? AE: Hmm. I rarely sit down and say to myself “Now I’m going to write a sonnet,” or “This is going to be a free verse poem.” Most poems began with an idea which becomes a line cen
