Poetry in general and Persian poetry in particular is going through a crisis of identity. To me nothing can better manifest this crisis than all the poetry magazines, poetry websites, poetry foundations and poetry contests that are out there to get the poet!
When one finds it necessary to turn to an institution to be appreciated, the danger is immense. The institution turns poetry into a despot! Poetry is hit upon as a savior. It becomes the last resort.
The longer the title, the more insignificant the job! The more institutions are needed to protect and promote something, the more the very thing they are trying to protect and promote is in decline. The intensity with which the poet and critic are throwing themselves upon institutionalized poetry betrays a desperate state of affairs: there is danger, there is but one choice: either to vanish or to be absurdly organized and systematic about poetry.
