Writing in the New York Times Book Review of February 22, 200, in an essay entitled 'The Great(ness) Game', David Orr began:

'In October, John Ashbery became the first poet to have an edition of his works released by the Library of America in his own lifetime. That honor says a number of things about the state of contemporary poetry — some good, some not so good — but perhaps the most important and disturbing question it raises is this: What will we do when Ashbery and his generation are gone? Because for the first time since the early 19th century, American poetry may be about to run out of greatness...' For the provocative article in full, see: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/22/books/review/Orr-t.html?_r=1&8bu=&emc=bua2&pagewanted=print