Writing Problems: The Position of the Poet

Milosz, Schulz, "Singer Finds His Own Name Among the Dead," Coleman, "Purple Death"

These questions came from lecture notes by Tanya Kalmanovitch and Jessi Stegall for a class they taught last week to young musicians at the New England Conservatory in Boston. I adapted them to the context of poetry because they help me think through a poet’s position in our society.

Do poets possess a special moral status? 

Do poets possess a special mo…