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When I was able to read a gender onto a not-explicitly-gendered speaker, I know that it was just based on my stereotypes and assumptions. I also fully assert the belief that the gender of the poet (or writer in general) does not have to be directly related to the gender of the speaker/narrator/presumed voice of the poem/story/text. But is it really not useful to gender the voice? I guess what I'm thinking is that it isn't useful to try to ascertain any information about the poet from the poetry; but, on the other hand, if we know some things about the poet—gender, time period, class, race, political affiliation, etc.—it allows us to read the poem in different ways. The poem doesn't have to depend on the poet for context and meaning. When I make my interpretations—especially of poetry—I do not care exclusively about the author's intent: Once a piece of writing is subjected to the public, it is each individual's to interpret as he or she can and will. At the same time, I have found it useful and exciting to consider what the author was trying to accomplish given his or her background. The poem cannot necessarily tell us about the poet, only about his or her created, artistic personality; but knowing something about the poet can open up (and close!) interpretations of the poem.