On NewPoetry-L, David Graham points out an interesting essay by Tony Hoagland on edge poetry, which is characterized by the “rigor of an intellect seriously in pursuit of something” as opposed to the lyric collage, which may offer many beauties, but remains “diffused.”

This may not be a definition you want use in any kind of final manner, but it is an interesting little piece. I like poets who would fit both categories, but I lean heavily towards discursive, edge poets. The lack of continuity in many of the collage style poems often throws me out of the piece, and like the abstract art skeptic, I often can’t help but wonder if the artist really knows what he or she is doing, or if the style is a result of their own lack of ability, lack of effort, or simply stems from a desire to appear as if they are on the cutting edge of things.