" If I can impart one final message, beyond the usual declarative to read poetry and buy poetry books," writes Evan Jones in his introduction to The Civilizing Discourse, " it is to listen to poets. The real ones offer wisdom and a perspective at odds with prevalent visions."

In a series of passionate, enlightening, frank, engaging, and sometimes astonishing conversations, thirteen poets-- many acknowledged masters-- open up about their writing processes, their childhoods and marriages, their regrets, as well as their hopes for and frustration with poetry. From Norm Sibum describing his affinity with a waitresses and cabbies to Nyla Matuk's wrenching investigations into the Palestinian side of her family; from Don Coles's obsession with alternative universes to Robyn Sarah's praise for discarded things; from Elise Partridge describing her shift in priorities after a cancer diagnosis to Steven Heighton's interest in remaining childlike, The Civilizing Discourse is not only a highly readable record of the literary scene today, but, in its celebration of language, will appeal to poetry readers and poets alike.