Dear Editor,
I received my July/August issue of Poetry this afternoon. As I do every month, I read the magazine from cover to cover. Unfortunately, for the first time I paused in the middle and questioned why a piece of poetry was selected for publication. I am referring to the poem “I Google Myself” by Mel Nichols. I’m certain the editors were aware of the incredible similarities between the poem and the lyrics of “I Touch Myself” by the Divinyls. In fact, some stanzas have been lifted entirely and the word “Google” has either been inserted or swapped for another word. As a poet, to see this is discouraging. Can you offer some solace to a poet, one working hard to write his own poetry, who now feels slapped in the face by his favorite magazine?