If we take it as read....

[Erthona]

You make a point Leanne, Tennyson's style is more memorable than any specific poem, although the Lady of Shallot is often mentioned, it is hardly his best effort. Only the Bard it seemed was writing at the level of Genius through most of his works. Even someone like Coleridge, who I consider one of the greatest English poets, really only wrote three poem at that level. Someone like Milton, who handled the verse form well enough, is still remembered mostly for the epic content and not as being a master of the medium. There seem to be only a few instances among those writers generally considered great, where they actually were. Outside of curiosity is there really any reason to read Coleridge's "To a young ass with his mother tethered near by"? 99% of what has in the past been published was more a response to need, than to the fact that there was something of excellence to print, and it seems with the increased accessibility of the publishing tools by individuals ever more refuse enters into the public forum everyday.

Dale