A State of Affairs

Only 8.3% of Americans read poetry in 2008 (cha cha cha cha ch-eeck it out) That's approximately 25,000,000 people. I wonder how many of those people read something written within the last 10 years. Even within the last 50. Contemporary poetry, I would ASSUME, has a much different audience. 1%? It would be reassuring if it was even that.

with my poems I am purchased
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxtonight I believe this

vision rises like light to its wave

the exact moment a poem dies it takes root

- Tony Tost, from Elephant and Obelisk (Published here)