This talk is one of several that the poet Anselm Berrigan is writing as part of the Bagley Wright Lecture Series on Poetry, a nonprofit that supports contemporary poets as they explore in-depth their own thinking on poetry and poetics, and give a series of lectures resulting from these investigations. Lectures are delivered publicly in partnership with institutions and organizations nationwide. Anselm Berrigan is the author of many books of poetry including most recently, Don't Forget to Love Me (Wave Books, 2024).