"In fact a lot of them I think are absolute baloney. Those Charles Olsens and people like that. At first I was interested in seeing what they were up to, what they were doing, why they were doing it. They never moved me in the way that one is moved by true poetry"

Norman MacCaig is revealing his opinion on the works of Charles Olsens and other poets like him. He is saying that he was at first interested in their works, but ultimately found them to be lacking in true poetic worth. He believes that their works are "absolute baloney" and do not move him in the same way that real poetry does. MacCaig is indicating that he has a clear understanding of what makes up true poetry and that the works of Olsens and others like him do not fulfill his requirements. He is suggesting that their works are not as meaningful or powerful as real poetry.