Swenson Joins Academy; Poetry at the 'NYT'

Poetry made news on two fronts recently. The financially troubled Academy of American Poets has named Tree Swenson its new executive director, and the New York Times, not known for publishing original poetry, will begin doing just that in the Book Review beginning with the February 17 issue.

Swenson, currently director of programs for the Massachusetts Cultural Council, succeeds William Wadsworth, executive director of the academy for the past 12 years, who was ousted from his position last November for failing to resolve a growing financial crunch.

Swenson is a former executive director and publisher of noted poetry house Copper Canyon Press and brings to the task experience as both a nonprofit publisher and as an able fund-raiser.

Charles Flowers, who has been acting executive director at the academy, told PW that he will continue with the academy as its associate director.

In the February 17 issue, the New York Times Book Review published "Harm's Woods," a poem by Nathaniel Bellows, a 29-year-old New York City-based poet whose work has been published in the New Republic and in the Paris Review. He also has a first novel, On This Day, coming from HarperCollins in 2003. All poems selected by the NYTBR will be previously unpublished works.

Asked why he's publishing poetry, NYTBR editor Chip McGrath was quick to respond, "Why not? We're not pioneers about this; other reviews do it." He pointed out that in the past, the NYTBR has run a poem or two for special occasions. "I thought it was time we systematized it," said McGrath, "although there really isn't going to be a real system." He also said poems "won't be in every issue. It will depend on a lot of things, like space.

"In a perfect world," said McGrath, "I'd publish fiction—but that's not going to happen."