Robert Stevick has said that "Robinson's poetry deserves the attention it does not contrive to attract" (Barnard, Centenary Essays<span>, 66). To introduce Robinson's subtlety, read the poems out loud and more than once. Robinson once told a reader who confessed to being confused about his poetry that he should read the poems one word at a time. Robinson was very sensitive to the sound of words and complained of not liking his name because it sounded like a tin can being kicked down the stairs. He also said that poetry must be music. This musical quality is best perceived by reading his poetry aloud.</span><span />
