Merton gives his definition of poetry in response to a high school student's request.
Jan Boggs was a sophomore at Niskayuna High School in New York.
Please click here for general restrictions concerning Merton's correspondence.
See also one published letter from Merton to Boggs in The Road to Joy, p. 338.
If the person in correspondence with Merton has full text records in the Merton Center Digital Collections, there will be a numeric link to them below.
This Record Sub-Group is not divided into Series and is arranged chronologically.
Click icons for links: ✓="Published | Library Record", ✉="Scanned" | 🗷="Scanned, Viewable Only at Merton Center"
# | Date | From/To | First Lines | Pub ✓ | Notes |
| y/m/d | Merton | | Scan ✉ | |
1. |
1966/02/02 |
HLS to Merton |
I am a sophomore at Niskayuna High School, Niskayuna, New York, and we are doing a poetry unit in my |
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asking for help on an English assignment - asking Merton's definition of a poem
«detailed view» |
2. |
1966/02/09 |
TL[c] from Merton |
I received your letter of the 3rd only yesterday. I am afraid this answer will be too late to help |
✓ |
Merton provides his definition of poetry
«detailed view» |
3. |
1966/02/11 |
HLS to Merton |
How can I ever thank you for your wonderful, gracious letter? When my teacher heard that I had |
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written to many poets - compiled around 200 definitions of poetry - Merton's one of the most meaningful / Merton's care in helping her despite the many adults who ignore a teenager
«detailed view» |
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