MPR has had a keen ear for capturing the words and meter of poetry. Minnesota is home to many nationally renowned poets, city and state poet laureates, spoken word artists, and individuals young and old that have simply created work for the sake of the form. The state is also a magnet for poets all throughout the world. Here is a wonderful breadth of those readings, speeches, thoughts, and histories of the poet.
July 1, 1968 - Taking a break from his campaign for the presidency, Eugene McCarthy reads his own poetry to a group of students at a Minnesota university (possibly St. Johns).
November 24, 1972 - Teacher and poet Don Luther Lee, later known as Haki R. Madhubuti, performs poetry reading and speaks on the importance of language to some African American poets.
February 12, 1973 - Women poets in the Twin Cities is a program dedicated to the anniversary of the birthday of women's rights leader Susan B. Anthony.
May 4, 1973 - An interview with Minnesota writers Patricia Hampl and James Moore, who edit a literary magazine "The Lamp in the Spine." Publication is primarily a poetry magazine, but also include essays on political and social interest.
May 27, 1973 - Part four of the MER documentary series, A Sense of Place. Program is titled “How You Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm?” and focuses on life on the farm and of the farmer.
June 21, 1973 - MPR’s Bill Siemering has a conversation with poet Thomas McGrath about poetry and politics. McGrath also reads his poetry.
June 21, 1973 - MPR’s Bill Siemering interviews poet Mark Vinz, editor of Dakota Territory. The interview is broken into three segments. Vinz talks about the use of regionalism in writing, young writers, and conflict/war. Vinz also reads numerous poems.
August 8, 1973 - MPR’s Bill Siemering interviews Midwestern poet Mark Vinz about regional poetry. Vinz reads his poems “Heartland, ”Line Storm,” and “First Summer: A Reckoning.”
August 8, 1973 - Poet Jim Moore provides commentary on why poets like Thomas McGrath and Robert Bly stay in this area, in part due to the connection between poetry and politics.
September 1, 1973 - Minnesota poet Robert Bly lectures about the importance of reading poetry aloud, starting with Homer, and feeling poetry vs. knowing it.