My latest realization and troubling realization is that there isn't a true "voice" when it comes to modern poetry. Who's the voice of the people, or even a movement for that matter? I haven't a clue. The Beats were around for the 50's and 60's and you had your Ginsburg’s and your Kerouac's that inspired many a people generations later even to continue to find your inner voice through the passions of the world. Before then, you had the Black Mountain poets, those who would continue to focus on more experimental poetic styles than the conventional ways from present, in the 19th century. Williams Carlos Williams and Ezra Pound inspired some of the other poets coming from the beat era.

Going forward, you had Bukowski and later Coolidge, very identifiable names and common mouthpieces for those generations. But, I honestly have a hard, hard time pointing a finger at a singular figure, or even movement in today's times that would be a central figure in poet circles. It seems everyone I pick up in the anthologies and poetry books found on the shelves in bookstores are trying too hard to become something very important or inspirational or revolutionary.

Now, please correct me if I need correcting, cause I will readily accept it, but I don't know of anyone that is taking a lead in either ideas or styles in mainstream publishing. Which is probably why I find myself coming to online sites, scouring the virtual pages for new talent and fresh approaches to ideas and techniques, because the physical world isn't delivering. So many poems are pretensions and full of self-loathing in an attempt to show a hint of humanity so we can adore them for their bravery.

Can I spit now to remove all this phlegm?

I'll be interested to see, twenty years from now if we don't blow ourselves up, how this era will be defined. I remember talking to about this many moons ago and she came away with hands up and shoulders hunched, unable to give an answer, too.

Maybe this will simply be the internet again, and random online artist will take center stage for a while till the mainstream gets tired of rehashed crap and sales dwindle. Then the publishers will look to other avenues, online folks and pick, scoop them up. It's just so easy to self-publish nowadays as well (lulu.com anyone? ) that to share profits with some greedy corporation just seems silly. Have quality stuff, people will buy.

Case in point, randomly, I'll mention Radiohead. They released an album online where you could pay whatever you wanted for a download. Average price for people that ended up paying (if they paid at all) was $5. Fast-forward two months later, they release their album on CD with the SAME songs for about $11 and it's the number one album. Why? Cause it's good music, and people will pay for something that is good. Same principle could be applied to poetry, too. If it's a good book, people'll buy it. Just like some of the amazing visual artist here on this site, they'll buy their works if it's good enough.

Ahh, yes. I think my rants are done for now. Food for thought. Your thoughts?