Poetry Matters: The Introduction to The Best American Poetry 2014

The Best American Poetry 2014, Guest Editor, Terrance Hayes, Series Editor David Lehman

One of my semi-weekly rituals is to roam around the Barnes & Nobel at the corner of E St. and 12 St. NW. Typically, I'll head right to the newsstand and grab the latest issue of Monocle before heading upstairs to peruse best sellers, hit business books and the extensive games section. Recently, I find myself lingering in front of the shelves that make up the "Poetry" section of the bookstore. About six weeks ago The Best American Poetry 2013 catches my eye and I purchase it on a whim. I thoroughly enjoy the process of reading these poems and when I find myself standing in front of that same "Poetry" shelf last week, I'm delighted to see that the 2014 edition of the anthology is already out.

I'm further delighted to see that this year's edition is guest edited by MacArthur Fellow Terrance Hayes. I first encounter Mr. Hayes at the O.B. Hardison Poetry Series where he joins a host of accomplished poets to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Poet Lore. He reads How To Be Drawn To Trouble and it's obvious to see to why he's a genius grant recipient.

Mr. Hayes' introduction to The Best American Poetry 2014 is unlike any introduction to the "Best American" anything I've ever read. The set up for the introduction is that Mr. Hayes sends a draft of the introduction to Dr. Charles Kinbote who is stunned to receive a 182-page treatise. In lieu of publishing the unwieldy introduction, Dr. Kinbote suggests that Mr. Hayes include the transcript of a wine soaked interview the two of them have.

The interview is great but after reading it I'm itching to get my hands of the full introduction. I scour the internet but I can't find any trace of the document. Finally, having no other option, I reach out directly to Mr. Hayes.

Here's what I write:

Will the 182 page version of the introduction ever be made available to the reading public?

And here's Mr. Hayes' incredible response:

Thanks for the inquiry, Aaron. The BAP 2014 Intro interview is really just me and a character from Vladimir Nabokov's novel, Pale Fire. There's no other introduction. I was imagining how long an intro would need to be to cover all I had to say about contemporary poetry. About as long as the anthology, I figure.

Best

Terrance

Note to self, before sending a note to a genius, do your homework. And a note to everyone else, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of The Best American Poetry 2014.