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.
February 25, 1992 - MPR’s Paula Schroeder interviews Rochester poet Rose Harmon-Davis. They discuss poetry, race, and identity in the business world. Segment also includes reading of poem.
March 3, 1992 - A profile of American poet and essayist Tess Gallagher and her book of poetry, Moon Crossing Bridge. Segment includes and interview and reading by author.
March 13, 1992 - On this Voices from the Heartland episode, MPR’s Marlana Benzie-Lourey talks with central Minnesota poet Nancy Paddock about the growing popularity of poetry, teaching workshops at nursing home, and the different types of poems. Paddock also reads numerous poems.
April 25, 1992 - MPR’s Kitty Eisele reports on the collaboration between American poet William Stafford and Minnesota artist and author Debra Frasier for the book, The Animal That Drank Up Sound.
May 1, 1992 - MPR’s Marlana Benzie-Lourey talks with St. Cloud poet Bill Meissner about the characters within his poetry. Meissner also reads numerous poems, including from his book Hitting into the Wind.
May 5, 1992 - Black poet Nikki Giovanni addressees a group of college students at the University of Minnesota on the subject of the violence in Los Angeles after the verdict of the Rodney King case.
May 15, 1992 - On this Voices from the Heartland episode, MPR’s Marlana Benzie-Lourey talks with central Minnesota poet Jerry Hansen about his time serving during the Vietnam War and his poetry about that experience. Hansen also reads numerous poems.
June 22, 1992 - A broadcast of MPR’s The Morning Show at The Centrum, located at Concordia College in Fargo-Moorhead. Program contains skits, interviews, performances and readings.
September 4, 1992 - Garrison Keillor hosts a special broadcast at the MPR State Fair booth. Keillor presents quite a collection of Minnesota poets.
September 17, 1992 - MPR’s Beth Friend interviews American poet Eileen Myles, who discusses her presidential candidacy.