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.
December 16, 1977 - Minnesota poet Robert Bly reads some of his works at an appearance at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.
January 2, 1978 - An edited re-broadcast version of A Home for the Weekend program of poetry and music with Nancy and Joe Paddock, writers and poets from Minnesota.
March 20, 1978 - On this Mixed Media program, MPR’s Nancy Fushan profiles poets Robert Creeley & Diane Wakowski, and filmaker Alfred Guzetti. Creeley
May 2, 1978 - MPR’s Bill Siemering profiles Minnesota poet Robert Bly. Program includes Bly reading from his book This Body is Made of Camphor and Gopherwood at Augsburg College, followed by an interview with Siemering.
May 3, 1978 - This Midday program deals with the shape of literature in our society with emphasis on writers in the Midwest. Presented is a portion of keynote speech at Midwest Writers Festival and Book Fair in the Twin Cities by Lucien Stryk, English professor at Northern Illinois University.
June 10, 1978 - MPR’s Kate Williams talks with Minneapolis poet Jerri Alexander, who shares poetry from her book Hurt Comes and Goes: Poetry of a Black American Woman.
July 29, 1978 - On this Saturday Public Affairs program, a broadcast of poet John Beecher delivering a commencement address at Worthington Community College. Program also includes Kim Hodgson interviewing Beecher.
November 15, 1978 - MPR’s Kim Hodgson visits poet Bill Holm’s residence in Minneota, Minnesota. Holm talks about his small town and the people who live there.
December 26, 1978 - Poet James Dickey speaks and reads from his poetry.
January 15, 1979 - MPR’s Nancy Fushan Interviews Minneapolis poet Keith Gunderson, who talks about his work 3142 Lyndale Ave. So. Apt. 24: Prose Poems and writing poetry. Segment also includes Gunderson reading his poetry.