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.
August 27, 2007 - Now, another scene in poetry from the Minnesota State Fair... The butter-head sculptures remain one of the Fair's most visited features, attracting new-comers and old-timers alike. Minneapolis writer Leslie Ball made it there today and was moved to write us this poem.
August 29, 2007 - One sight you'll find EVERY day of the fair is the State Fair parade. Minneapolis writer Leslie Ball watched the parade today and found her fellow parade watchers just as interesting.
August 31, 2007 - The Fair generates a lot of garbage -- cups and plates -- of course many many sticks. But writer Leslie Ball found that garbage is brought in as its own special display.
October 16, 2007 - MPR Midmorning host Kerri Miller sits down with the author Maya Angelou in Bloomington. Angelou says writing to be understood isn't easy.
December 16, 2007 - On this episode of Speaking of Faith, host Krista Tippet profiles the 13th-century Muslim mystic and poet Rumi, who has long shaped Muslims around the world and has now become popular in the West. Rumi created a new language of love within the Islamic mystical tradition of Sufism.
December 20, 2007 - BIll Holm speaks at the Minneapolis Library series Talk of the Stacks. Holm talks about what living in Iceland teaches you about America in his book "Windows of Brimnes: An American In Iceland."
December 25, 2007 - Stage Session's "The Traditions of Christmas: Those You Want and Those That Are Foisted Upon You," with Heather McElhatton and guest poet Bill Holm, who present an eclectic Christmas show featuring an unexpected mix of literature, music and more.
January 16, 2008 - MPR’s Marriane Combs interviews poet Robery Bly and actor Mark Rylance about Guthrie Theater’s “Peer Gynt” production.
March 10, 2008 - MPR’s Tom Crann interviews Mary Hu, high school poetry champion of the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest held at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul. Segment also includes clip of Hu performing a Thomas Hardy poem. The students recited poetry of old -- by Longfellow, Poe, Kipling and Browning -- as well as new, like Maya Angelou, Billy Collins and Sharon Olds. After three rounds, Morris Area High School student Mary Hu emerged as this year's winner.
March 14, 2008 - MPR’s Steven John interviews renowned poet Maya Angelou, who shares thoughts on her life and politics.