Quote by Marilyn Hacker
Poetry seems to have been eliminated as a literary genre, and installed instead, as a kind of spiritual aerobic exercise - nobody need read it, but anybody can do it.
Summary
This quote suggests that poetry has lost its significance as a literary genre in contemporary society. It claims that poetry has been reduced to a superficial activity, stripped of its true essence. The comparison to a "spiritual aerobic exercise" implies that poetry is now seen as a shallow, easily accessible endeavor that requires minimal effort and lacks the importance of being read and appreciated. This highlights a perception that poetry has lost its intellectual and artistic value, becoming an activity that anyone can participate in without understanding or appreciating its complexity.