A letter to the editor from the 1/24/09 edition of Hartford Courant

Poetry on Page 1


January 24, 2009

Hooray! Poetry back on Page 1 of The Courant [Jan. 20, "Labor Of Joy; State Poet's Narrative Poem Celebrates Obama Inaugural"].


There's a return to tradition that can only improve America's "oldest continually published newspaper" — back to the days of the 18th century, when periodicals and poets depended upon each other to build readership and literary reputations.


Bring back columns like "The Poet's Corner," "The Parnassiad," or "The Seat of the Muses," throw in a little Latin satiric verse on events of the day for good measure, and watch readership soar.


Now, many readers might think I'm being facetious, but I'm not (well, except maybe for part about the soaring readership.) Anything that brings poetry to us in our daily lives should be encouraged and embraced. It puts us in touch with what makes us all human.


Gilbert L. Gigliotti, New Britain


The writer is a professor and chairman of the English department at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain.