The American poet William Stafford was often asked by friends, readers, students
and colleagues: When did you become a poet? The response he regularly offered
was: "The question isn't when I became a poet; the question is when other people
stopped." Stafford was articulating what many poets believe: that the roots of
poetry (rhythm, form, sound) go far back -- both personally and culturally --
"to the crib" and "to the fire in front of the cave."
More in this piece that explores the evolution of poetry education.
