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 17, 1988 - Maya Angelou speaks at an observance of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, birthday, addressing an audience at Northrop Auditorium at the University of Minnesota. Angelou also reads her poetry and recounts her experiences.
March 30, 1990 - On this Midday program, MPR’s Bob Potter interviews author and poet Bill Holm. They discuss Holm’s book “Coming Home Crazy: An Alphabet of China Essays” and the Tiananmen Square protests. Holm also answers listener questions.
June 30, 1990 - Poet, author, playwright, actress and civil rights activist Maya Angelou speaks at the third Nancy Hank Lecture on Arts and Public Policy. Angelou’s address is on the importance of art.
November 30, 1990 - MPR’s Beth Friend interviews Native American poet Joy Harjo, who discusses language, the Earth, and Western reality. Segment includes Harjo reading her poetry.
December 26, 1990 - On this Midday program, a documentary on Iceland satirical poet Kristjan Niels Julius, followed by an interview with author Barry Lopez.
December 26, 1990 - Mainstreet Radio’s John Biewen profiles Icelandic North Dakota poet Kristjan Niels Julius. Segment includes interviews about the poet and readings of his work.
January 1, 1991 - Philip Levine reads his poems and talks about his work from a lecture given at Saint John's University. The American poet is best known for his poems about working-class Detroit.
March 7, 1991 - MPR’s Mark Zdechlik visits Mayslacks Polka Lounge in North Minneapolis, where one can find a drink, Polish food…and local poetry readings.
March 15, 1991 - MPR’s Beth Friend profiles St. Paul poet and essayist David Mura. Mura is interviewed about his experience getting a writing grant and moving to Japan for a year.
April 26, 1991 - MPR’s Beth Friend interviews Greek nature poet Olga Broumas, who discusses her viewpoint on poetry and teaching. Feature also includes readings of poems “The Massacre” and “The Bird,” from her book “"Perpetua."