“Amidst the bilge, posturing and chicanery emanating from that parallel universe, the institutional world of foundations, academies, societies, endowments, programs, committees and panels; along with the attendant pieties, bogus reputations and notions of decorum that nowadays obtain in American poetry, strides David Orr and, with a bracing ahem, reminds us that poetry is an ancient and living art, a robust American art, and not a commodity or vehicle for self-expression, social betterment, or career enhancement. Mr. Orr argues his case with passion, eloquence, erudition and good sense —and, as is his custom, not a little moxy.”

—August Kleinzahler