There were no red carpets, dazzling jewels or swarming paparazzi, but when two American poets stepped forward to receive large prizes at a gala dinner here on Tuesday night, their often obscure world seemed to come a step closer to the cultural mainstream.

That, at least, was the goal of the Poetry Foundation, which is deciding how to use the astonishing gift of about $100 million it received two years ago.

"This was a kickoff," said John Barr, president of the foundation. Soon to come, he said, are a host of projects, from a national recitation contest for high school students to "the biggest and baddest Web site for poetry out there." The projects are likely to comprise the most sweeping effort to promote poetry in the history of the United States or any other country.

They may also make the Poetry Foundation a major force on the American cultural landscape.

# posted by Gerry Canavan @ 12:54 PM  |