I love it. I wanted to showcase this poem, in part, because it was caught up in the Kucera plagiarism scandal. I accepted a plagiarized version of 'The Forge' (by George Bilgere) for publication in ONE ART (under the title 'Summer, 1993' by "John Kucera"). Days before publication, I noticed the poem had been published by Redivider (since taken down for obvious reasons). I then looked up the other Kucera poems I'd accepted and found they, too, had been "previously published" (later determined to also have been plagiarized). 'Summer, 1993' as in, Bilgere's 'The Forge', I had planned to nominate for a Pushcart or Best of the Net prize. And, I suspect, it might have won. An exceptional poem.
Oh, my. "The Forge" is such a fine poem. "Gutting" as the youngs are want to say.
I love it. I wanted to showcase this poem, in part, because it was caught up in the Kucera plagiarism scandal. I accepted a plagiarized version of 'The Forge' (by George Bilgere) for publication in ONE ART (under the title 'Summer, 1993' by "John Kucera"). Days before publication, I noticed the poem had been published by Redivider (since taken down for obvious reasons). I then looked up the other Kucera poems I'd accepted and found they, too, had been "previously published" (later determined to also have been plagiarized). 'Summer, 1993' as in, Bilgere's 'The Forge', I had planned to nominate for a Pushcart or Best of the Net prize. And, I suspect, it might have won. An exceptional poem.
Oh, my. What a journey!