POETRY SLAM: The Nation's editors admit to making a "serious mistake," apologize for pain poem caused

At this point, we’re barely surprised when a mainstream news outlet like The Washington Post appends a correction to a story, or when a site like The Root pulls a viral story about Russian hackers changing votes from its site for “editorial review.”

But it’s really something to see an outlet publish an editor’s note as long as the one in The Nation apologizing for a poem that made it into print. Check this out from poetry editor Stephanie Burt, who teaches English at Harvard but was apparently didn’t “get” this poem.

A few words to follow from me and from @lizitasmith, poetry editors of @thenation.

— Stephanie Burt (@accommodatingly) July 24, 2018

As poetry editors, we hold ourselves responsible for the ways in which the work we select is received. We made a serious mistake by choosing to publish the poem “How-To.” We are sorry for the pain we have caused to the many communities affected by this poem. We recognize that we must now earn your trust back. Some of our readers have asked what we were thinking. When we read the poem we took it as a profane, over-the-top attack on the ways in which members of many groups are asked, or required, to perform the work of marginalization. We can no longer read the poem in that way.

The writer of the poem tweeted it in full, so here you go:

This poet was happy about getting published in the Nation. But then the poetry police struck. Look through the comments. Warning: Pettiness and spite ahead. https://t.co/Y9cHKatUo2

— Christina Sommers (@CHSommers) July 30, 2018

Let’s say it didn’t go over well with everyone.

Yeah, dear white dude bropoets, have several seats. Whatever these fragments are, they feel deeply offensive & appropriative. But don’t take my word for it—listen to greats like Aires D Matthews & Patricia Smith & Nate Marshall. Sit. Listen. Apologize & pull this shit.

— Liz Purvis (@lizpurvis9768) July 24, 2018

The Nation is cancelled, this poet is cancelled

— CATHERINE CHAMBERS (@CatChamberz) July 24, 2018

Congrats on ending your own career as a poet I guess. Wild that this was even published.

— Gabriel Solis (@tierraycaldo) July 24, 2018

Hey man this is racist. Do better. And shame on the nation for publishing it.

— Miss Shirleen Stan Account (@csilverandgold) July 24, 2018

This is the most offensive and awful piece of garbage. A poor and delusional attempt at being edgy.

— Marisa Crane she/her (@marisabcrane) July 24, 2018

That's not a poem.

— E.F. Silk (@CanadaNRx) July 24, 2018

This reminds us of that time two weeks ago when actor Mark Duplass got dragged for calling Ben Shapiro a “genuine person.”

The editors made this noteworthy statement: “As poetry editors, we hold ourselves responsible for the ways in which the work we select is received.”

So however I receive a poem, they’re responsible for it? https://t.co/3T5cPU34yO

— Conor Friedersdorf (@conor64) July 30, 2018

The safe-space culture has officially infested the arts. You people should be ashamed.

— Terrance H. (@TerranceRAH) July 28, 2018

I read the poem. It's a crappy poem in my opinion. But I fail to understand how it's profane or racist. So now all poems have to have a particular political agenda that you approve of?

— Veritas Apocalypse (@VeritasApoc) July 28, 2018

https://twitter.com/The4EEGroup/status/1024067199525249024

Carlson-Wee is trying to do his penance:

https://twitter.com/AndersWeePoet/status/1021794320435699712

Related:

Of course: Vox explains why Mark Duplass was right to apologize for calling Ben Shapiro 'a genuine person' https://t.co/XGaP14mhoU

— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) July 20, 2018