OHIO POETS SURVEY

Last week, in preparing for the Ohio Poetry Association presentation on "Ohio Voice: A Poetic History" for World Poetry Day, I sent out a survey on poets' favorite poets, asking:

1. Your three favorite Ohio poets no longer living. (We call them "The Historic")
2. Your three favorite contemporary Ohio poets
3. What poem by an Ohio should be read for "World Poetry Day"

The bad news is that I could only give responders two days, and many could not get back by then. Also, my address book being who it is, my survey isn't representative of the state. (I really missed getting enough NW Ohio responders.) Still, I got 60 responses. 

The good news is that no one stuck to three (how could they?) The other good news is that many were named, and loved. 

Here are the very skewed but nevertheless heartening results:

FAVORITE HISTORICAL OHIO POETS 
(in alphabetical order, most mentions):

Russell Atkins, Hart Crane, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Langston Hughes, Robert Lawry, d.a. levy, Vachel Lindsay, William Matthews, Mary Oliver, Kenneth Patchen, Terry Provost, Maj Ragain, Daniel Thompson, Alberta Turner, James Wright, David Young 

FAVORITE CONTEMPORARY OHIO POETS
(in alphabetical order, most mentions)

Abdurraqib, Ali, Baker, Bentley, Biddinger, Bilgere, Borsenik, Burroughs, Donoghue, Dove, Essinger, Glaser, Grimm, Gundy, Iris, Jacobson (Bonnie), *Kendig, Lucas, Majmudar, Martin (Herb), McDonough, Metres, Nezhukumatahil, Powell , Salmons, Smith (Maggie), Vidrick, Weldon, Wiegl--
but in all, 80 poets were mentioned. Full list available on request.
(*disqualified due to suspected power of suggestion) 

FAVORITE POEMS

Nineteen poems were suggested, but for the presentation, we let the seven readers choose the poems they wanted. List available on request.