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.
March 9, 2007 - The male vocal ensemble Cantus and poet Robert Bly collaborate on a new series of poems set to music.
March 9, 2007 - Noted poet Nikki Giovanni speaks at the University of Minnesota about the poet's inquiry into the life of a civil rights icon.
March 23, 2007 - MPR’s Stephanie Hemphill reports on poetry anthology of Minnesota women, going all the way back to pioneer days. The book is titled "To Sing Along the Way."
April 2, 2007 - MPR’s Sea Stachura talks with Minnesota poet Leslie Adrienne Miller about her poetry book based on 18th century anatomy drawings.
April 10, 2007 - MPR’s Tom Crann talks with Dr. Jon Hallberg about medical poetry and prose.
April 25, 2007 - MPR’s Sea Stachura reports on new poetry collection "Where One Voice Ends Another Begins: 150 Years of Minnesota Poetry." Stachura interviews a poet and editor of collection.
April 26, 2007 - MPR’s Tom Crann interviews poet Donald Hall on the campus of St. John's University. Hall is in Minnesota for a reading at the College of Saint Benedict.
April 26, 2007 - MPR’s Dan Gunderson reports on Mark Vinz, a well-known Minnesota poet, retiring from the classroom.
August 15, 2007 - MPR’s Stephanie Hemphill talks with poet Louis Jenkins about writing poetry and his book "North of the Cities." Jenkins reads a few poems, including "Uncle Axel."
August 27, 2007 - Now, another scene in poetry from the Minnesota State Fair... The butter-head sculptures remain one of the Fair's most visited features, attracting new-comers and old-timers alike. Minneapolis writer Leslie Ball made it there today and was moved to write us this poem.