Reginald Shepherd

A fascinating critic / theorist of poetry, and of course poet himself, passed away yesterday after a barrage of illnesses. I've so enjoyed reading his posts on the Poetry Foundation's blog Harriet and his own (both linked here). Deep, cerebral, enlightening, honest, and direct conversations of all things poetry. A horrible way to sum them up, but I've found so few poet critics who can walk the walk and talk the talk, or, more accurately, be able to deliver complex ideas about the nature of poetry lucidly. It's a great shame that we've lost this voice--not only for the few who actively read poetry in general, but for the fewer who are nerds and really really get into it.