The ideas of four contemporary poets--Ann Deagon, Lyn Lifshin, Marge Piercy, and Alice Walker--concerning the oral interpretation of poetry are presented in this paper. The poets' ideas relate to the following topics: (1) the importance of reading poems aloud; (2) reasons why they give poetry readings, and effects of their poetry readings on their poetry; and (3) their attitudes toward the oral interpretation of their poetry by other people. The paper summarizes the poets' responses by noting that all the poets except Walker believe strongly that the oral interpretation of a poem is necessary for its full realization; that Piercy and Lifshin find their own poetry readings often give them critical insights that lead them to make changes in their poems; and that Deagon, Piercy, and Lifshin all are interested in hearing good oral interpretations of their poetry by other people. (Most of the comments presented in the paper were made by Deagon, Lifshin, and Piercy during long interviews; only a few ideas of Walker, who was interviewed briefly, are included.) (GT)