Diary of a Mad Editor

Archive for 2002

Even My Shit Smells Like Poetry

Yes, that’s right kiddies — by popular demand, the “mad editor” is back in black with talons dripping blood and venom.

In this installment, I’d like to draw your attention to one, Harry Whitaker, director of Northern Michigan University Press. (Notice, he doesn’t refer to himself as an “editor.” Curious.) A while back, Michigan poet and frequent Asterius Press contributor, T. Kilgore Splake sent a book proposal to NMU. Harry Whitaker rejected Splake and while I don’t have a problem with an editor rejecting a writer, I do take exception to the reasoning behind Whitaker’s rejection: Whitaker was operating under the assumption that because of Splake’s unconventional style, he must be an uneducated “hick-from-the-sticks.” Here is Whitaker’s reply:

The associate director and I reviewed the materials you sent to the NMU Press. The Press is not interested in reprinting material of this nature. (Opinion: Judging from it’s catalog, The Press is not interested in publishing anything anyone would actually read without having a gun pointed at his head either.) Beyond that, quite frankly I could not figure out what it was you were submitting for our consideration, albeit there were two sheets of poems which did not overtly appear to have been previously published. (translation: we don’t publish writers without publication credits. Fact: Splake has so many publication credits that he can’t remember where many of his writings have been published, so he rarely lists his publication credits.)

I suppose that there is a community of literati who use the English language as you do in your correspondence with me (opinion: he doesn’t get out much.) but, to borrow from a vernacular of 40 years ago, I’m not in to that.(Fact: “in to” is one word) It’s not that I mind struggling with your style; (translation: I mind struggling with your style.) I struggle with Joyce and Pound, too; however, neither of them expect a reply.(translation: I am a highly educated individual who reads lofty tomes and you are an ignorant uneducated redneck. Fact: Splake is a highly educated, well-read individual and a former college professor of political science — he, too, has read Joyce and Pound and a number of other lofty tomes Whitaker has probably never heard of.) I remain open to proposals but doubt that I will be able to do much with that which I do not understand. (translation: I only read proposals from over-educated nits like myself.)

Cheers, (an intentional dig at Splake’s usual sign-off)

Harry Whitaker Director

Now, I’m sure some of you will think me a hypocrite considering my own stabs at writers who’ve submitted to me. However, allow me to point out the difference: If Whitaker had blasted Splake for failing to include an SASE, I’d be cheering the guy on. Or, if he had asked for Whitaker’s feedback beyond a simple response to his query, I’d say ole T-bone had gotten what he deserved. But he is blasting Splake for his style under the erroneous assumption that Splake is unaccomplished and uneducated. That, folks, is elitism and it is this attitude which has driven the audience away from poetry. Here’s another example of what I’m talking about:

Anyone happen to see that segment on “60 minutes” about a year ago profiling slam poetry? Did you catch Robert Pinsky’s comments? Pinsky dispassionately (when has Pinsky ever been passionate about anything?) dismissed slam as entertainment as if poetry and entertainment are somehow mutually exclusive. Slam is a competition and being as Pinsky has never been to a slam; his opinion is uninformed albeit common among academics. However, I suspect this was a bit of sour grapes on the part of Pinsky; after all, Slam has done more to return poetry to the public consciousness than Pinsky ever did during his term as the U.S. Poet Laureate. I’ve noticed that these same critics have no problem with shelling-out $20 to enter a university-sponsored book competition. What’s the difference? How can any sensible person believe that poets who exist outside the literary-industrial complex take their craft less seriously than those operating within the confines of word factory doctrine? Sure, there are bad poets in Slam, but there are just as many bad poets in every other arena. I’ve attended slams and some of those poets are so gifted they’d make Alexander Pope cry. Having an advanced college degree doesn’t make one better than someone who does not have an advanced degree. And, as for poets with an M. A. Degree, would it surprise any of you to learn that I’ve rejected as many of them as I have the inbred, Jerry Springer- watching trailer trash who can barely write their own names, much less write poetry? In my life I’ve known PhDs who’ve ended-up flipping burgers at McDonald’s and although I’m sure that many of them could diagram the molecular structure of a Big Mac, if they can’t serve me in under a minute, I couldn’t give a damn.