https://www.forbes.com/sites/entertainment/article/best-poets/
An interesting list. However, whilst I think such articles can spark interest in poetry and perhaps encourage those who have not yet come to love the art form to do so, any such list is just the opinion of the author. I, personally am surprised that Keats does not get a mention. His fine poems on autumn and his ode to a nightingale surely make him worthy of inclusion in such a list.
K Morris - Poet 
I just went through the list. I’m afraid to say that I’ve not heard of the majority of the poets on it.
Many of them are from modern times, or ancient Greece, as I see it. I’m amazed that poets such as Shakespeare, Shelley, and as you say, Keats, aren’t there. And the so-called war poets.
What about poets who write comic verse? Can they not be considered ‘great’? McGonagall, for instance, or Edward Lear?
And can a poet few have heard of be considered great? I’d be interested in what your commenters have to say about this.
But great poetry is in the eye of the beholder, as they say.
You’ve nailed the lack of credibility of “listicles.”
I guess the argument could be extended to cover anthologies. Having said that, I have several poetry anthologies on my bookshelves from which I derive tremendous pleasure. My favourite is probably Helen Gardner’s The New Oxford Book of English Verse. I believe good anthologies are a great way of iintroducing readers to a variety of poems and poets, some of whom they would otherwise not come across.
I don’t think anthologies have the same drawbacks are listicles–unless the have “best” in the title.
Good point Liz.
I also was surprised to see that Shakespeare was not included. A friend of mine once remarked that the Bard of Avon was a better poet than he was a dramatist, and I think there is a kernel of truth in his observation. Certainly I would class Shelley’s Ozymandias as one of the greatest poems ever written. I’d heard of most of the poets, but must confess to not having read all of them. Many thanks for commenting, Vivienne.
Ozimandias was one of the poems I studied when doing my teacher training. Wonderful poem.
I was interested to learn that Ozymandias was one of the poems you studied, Vivienne.
So, Forbes is the arbiter of literary taste now?
Your comment made me smile Liz! To be fair to Forbes, had I compiled such a list I’m sure that my blog’s readers would be saying “why didn’t you include such and such a poet”, or “why did you include this poet, I think their work is of little or no value”. I guess it is good to know that readers of Forbes (or some of them) have room in their lives for more than the making of money, as man can not live by bread alone! Thanks for commenting
You’re welcome, Kevin. I guess I did let the snark out.
Well letting the snark out made me laugh, so it was no bad thing!
Whew!