Listen: Milan Art (Bly)-5887
0:00

Minnesota poet Robert Bly reads the poem "Driving toward the Lac Qui Parle River."

Poem is about Milan, Minnesota.

Transcript:

(00:00:00) I am driving it is dusk Minnesota the Stubblefield catches Alaska with of sun. The soybeans are breathing on all sides old men are sitting before their houses on car seats

(00:00:12) in the small towns.

(00:00:14) I am happy the Moon Rising above the Turkish heads the small world of the car plunges through the deep feelings of the night on the road from Wilmer to Milan. This Solitude covered with iron moves through the fields of night penetrated by the noise or crickets nearly to Milan suddenly a small bridge in water kneeling in the Moon Line in small towns. The houses are built right in the ground the lamp light falls on all

(00:00:42) fours in the grass.

(00:00:44) When I reach the river the full moon covers it

(00:00:48) a few people are talking low. in a boat

Transcripts

text | pdf |

SPEAKER: I am driving. It is dusk in Minnesota. The stubble field catches the last growth of sun. The soybeans are breathing on all sides. Old men are sitting before their houses on car seats in the small towns. I am happy. The moon rising above the turkey sheds. The small world of the car, plunges through the deep fields of the night, on the road from Wilmer to Milan.

This solitude covered with iron, moves through the fields of night, penetrated by the noise of crickets. Nearly to Milan, suddenly a small bridge, in water kneeling in the moonlight. In small towns, the houses are built right in the ground. The lamplight falls on all fours in the grass. When I reach the river, the full moon covers it. A few people are talking low in a boat.

Funders

Digitization made possible by the National Historical Publications & Records Commission.

This Story Appears in the Following Collections

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.

< path d="M23.5-64c0 0.1 0 0.1 0 0.2 -0.1 0.1-0.1 0.1-0.2 0.1 -0.1 0.1-0.1 0.3-0.1 0.4 -0.2 0.1 0 0.2 0 0.3 0 0 0 0.1 0 0.2 0 0.1 0 0.3 0.1 0.4 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.2 0.1 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.2 0 0.4-0.1 0.5-0.1 0.2 0 0.4 0 0.6-0.1 0.2-0.1 0.1-0.3 0.3-0.5 0.1-0.1 0.3 0 0.4-0.1 0.2-0.1 0.3-0.3 0.4-0.5 0-0.1 0-0.1 0-0.2 0-0.1 0.1-0.2 0.1-0.3 0-0.1-0.1-0.1-0.1-0.2 0-0.1 0-0.2 0-0.3 0-0.2 0-0.4-0.1-0.5 -0.4-0.7-1.2-0.9-2-0.8 -0.2 0-0.3 0.1-0.4 0.2 -0.2 0.1-0.1 0.2-0.3 0.2 -0.1 0-0.2 0.1-0.2 0.2C23.5-64 23.5-64.1 23.5-64 23.5-64 23.5-64 23.5-64"/>