Every American poet feels that the whole responsibility for contemporary poetry has fallen upon his shoulders, that he is a literary aristocracy of one.

Summary

This quote expresses the sentiment that every American poet carries a sense of immense responsibility for the state and future of contemporary poetry, feeling as though they alone bear the burden of upholding and advancing the art form. It suggests that poets see themselves as an exclusive literary elite, with each individual poet considering themselves a sole representative of this aristocratic literary tradition. The quote underscores both the pride and the weight of this perceived responsibility that American poets place upon themselves.

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