A news feature of poetry written later in life, and presenting poetry to diverse audience on buses.
This recording was made available through a grant from the National Historical Publications & Records Commission.
A news feature of poetry written later in life, and presenting poetry to diverse audience on buses.
This recording was made available through a grant from the National Historical Publications & Records Commission.
SPEAKER 1: The thing that the people I work with have are their years of experience, their memories. Most of the poems seem to take off from memories, stories from their past.
SPEAKER 2: Our marriage, that was simple enough. That was like we were an old shoe or an old towel on a line, very simple. But my wife was always seeing forward to a lot of happiness. She was always living in happiness. That was a marriage without any luxuries, but a lot of love. By John Madsen, veterans home in Minnesota, aged 84.
SPEAKER 1: They enjoy hearing poems written by other poets. There's a fascination with language. But they also have their own memories and their own stories. And they really value those. And so do I.
SPEAKER 3: It sounds like for many of them, it's their first time writing poetry. Is it a shock to them that they can write poetry?
SPEAKER 1: Yeah, I think it is. Well, they seem really surprised when they see the things typed up sometimes. I think it's a surprise to realize that other people really value their writing as well.
SPEAKER 4: Now, everybody was so thrilled about me writing that. That's all I hear. When are you writing? When are you writing? I was so-- and it really went over good with people at home, that I could do a thing like that.
SPEAKER 3: How do you feel? Were you surprised?
SPEAKER 4: Yes, I was. I was surprised that the one I wrote, and then a company at San Antonio, Texas bought it. And the first thing I got, here comes the lady out, one day. And she says, here's $5. They bought your poem way down near San Antonio, Texas. And I wrote it down here in the home.
SPEAKER 3: Why didn't you ever write any poems before that?
SPEAKER 4: Why, yeah, I was milking cows, feeding hogs, calling chickens, gathering eggs.
SPEAKER 1: All of the people I worked with really worked all of their lives and really were busy. And John Madsen was a farmer. And Hildegard raised five children. And all of the stories are like that. They didn't necessarily read much either. But I think there is a real feeling for the oral heritage. They're some people I've met who are wonderful storytellers.
SPEAKER 3: So it's a different kind of poetry, then?
SPEAKER 1: Yeah. In a way, it's more direct, just very simple sometimes.
SPEAKER 2: Yes, it's a pleasure to drive near dark. The farmers are almost through with their chores. I can see the lights yet. The trees are as ever bare and ready for a long winter. They are undressed now. And perhaps they are soon resting and quiet.
SPEAKER 3: What about the idea of having poetry on buses? Why put poetry on buses?
SPEAKER 1: Well, the buses, of course, are-- they're just filled with people. You can't predict the audience you're going to have on a bus. I think all of these things have to be brought out into the community as much as possible. And I think that when people riding the bus look up and see the poems and see that they are statements about lives and personal statements, maybe it will give them a glimpse into the idea that they too can write.
SPEAKER 2: Well, it just got you. It was so easy to think of something. When you get to be as old as-- well, I shouldn't put we. Then you see you're interested in your childhood, and after that, your school days, and then leaving home, and working here and there. So that, oh, there's so much to talk about then.
SPEAKER 3: Why didn't you ever write any poetry before?
SPEAKER 2: Well, it's like when I came down to the coffee shop in the veterans home that day, they said oh, yeah, we saw your name in the paper. They're going to put that up in the buses, Saint Paul and Minneapolis. And this Marie, she says, well, she says, I can't figure out, I thought all poems had to rhyme. And I says, well OK, Marie, that's not a real poem that'll strike the, go to the heart, but just to rhyme. Well, I feel like just saying eeny meeny miney mo. [LAUGHS] Yeah, I guess she still thinks so.
Digitization made possible by the National Historical Publications & Records Commission.
Views and opinions expressed in the content do not represent the opinions of APMG. APMG is not responsible for objectionable content and language represented on the site. Please use the "Contact Us" button if you'd like to report a piece of content. Thank you.
Transcriptions provided are machine generated, and while APMG makes the best effort for accuracy, mistakes will happen. Please excuse these errors and use the "Contact Us" button if you'd like to report an error. Thank you.