Well, I feel impelled to add a review because of the very weird review currently posted. The core question about a poet, of course, is the value of the poetry. And with Eli Siegel we are speaking about one of the greatest masters of poetry of the 20th century. This is not my opinion only. William Carlos Williams (who should know!) said of the title poem in this volume that it was so great that all other poets were "compelled to pursue his lead." (His entire letter on the subject of Eli Siegel's artistic greatness is actually included in this book, as something of a preface.) The book also was nominated for a Pulitzer prize. (Siegel's second book of poetry was similarly honored: this time by a nomination for a National Book Award).

In short, the poetry is magnificent. As for Aesthetic Realism, which the reviewer I mentioned wrote of in such odd terms, it is the philosophy Eli Siegel taught. Scholars in many fields have written doctoral dissertations with this philosophy as their stated basis. Dozens of scholarly journals have published peer-reviewed articles likewise having this philosophy as their core methodology. Major academic publishers, from China to the UK, have published books with Aesthetic Realism clearly present as the book's foundation. I could say a good deal more---but the point is: I am quite sure that any open-minded reader, not prejudiced by high-powered and provocatively negative language, will discover for themselves just how kind, valuable, insightful and profound Eli Siegel was: both in his poetry, and in his philosophic prose. And in each aspects of the English language, how beautifully musical. ( )

The signature work of Eli Siegel. Lots of good poems. However, beware the AR cult which is truly evil. ( )