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.
November 2, 1991 - Weekend Edition’s Jim Wishner talks with author Bill Holm about the snowstorm that hit state. Holm gives his impression on what blizzards are all about…a time to read and write.
December 7, 1991 - David Hilton's basketball poem "The Poet Tries to Turn in His Jock," read by A.S.
January 2, 1992 - American poet Diane Glancy reads her poem "Without Title" (for my Father who lived without ceremony).
February 7, 1992 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer profiles the 10th Anniversary of Minnesota Voices Project Competition.
February 14, 1992 - On this Voices in the Heartland episode, MPR’s Marlana Benzie-Lourey talks with central Minnesota poet Joe Paddock about nature, history of the land, and his poetry. Paddock also reads numerous poems.
February 25, 1992 - MPR’s Paula Schroeder interviews Rochester poet Rose Harmon-Davis. They discuss poetry, race, and identity in the business world. Segment also includes reading of poem.
March 13, 1992 - On this Voices from the Heartland episode, MPR’s Marlana Benzie-Lourey talks with central Minnesota poet Nancy Paddock about the growing popularity of poetry, teaching workshops at nursing home, and the different types of poems. Paddock also reads numerous poems.
May 1, 1992 - MPR’s Marlana Benzie-Lourey talks with St Cloud Minnesota poet Bill Meissner about the characters within his poetry. Meissner also reads numerous poems, including from his book “Hitting into the Wind.”
May 5, 1992 - Black poet Nikki Giovanni addressees a group of college students at the University of Minnesota on the subject of the violence in Los Angeles after the verdict of the Rodney King case.
May 15, 1992 - On this Voices from the Heartland episode, MPR’s Marlana Benzie-Lourey talks with central Minnesota poet Jerry Hansen about his time serving during Vietnam War, and his poetry about that experience. Hansen also reads numerous poems.