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.
September 10, 2009 - Jim Perlman, founder of Holy Cow Press, discusses collection of poems "Beloved on the Earth" from Duluth based publisher. The book focuses poems about grief, mourning - and celebration.
December 22, 2009 - Say what you will about the frivolity of the holiday buying season, Minneapolis poet Todd Boss has discovered a new reason to indulge in mechanical marble-tumble toys.
June 16, 2010 - Minnesota poet Philip Bryant has some words of comfort for the residents of the Gulf Coast in the face of the undersea oil gusher. Bryant, who teaches English at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, has seen hope return after a disaster.
July 5, 2010 - MPR’s Marc Sanchez presents a profile of Scott King, owner of Red Dragonfly Press in Red Wing. King creates books the old-fashioned way. He publishes poetry, usually in the form of small "chap" books. Each letter of each word is set in place by hand and then printed one page at a time.
August 4, 2010 - MPR’s Kerri Miller interviews spoken word poets Matthew Rucker, Sierra DeMulder, and Khary Jackson about the National Poetry Slam being held in St. Paul. Segment also includes excerpt of performer in Haiku style verse as a NPS side event.
September 16, 2010 - St. Paul Poet Todd Boss sends us this look back at his summer road trip in his poem, "Luckenbach."
April 5, 2011 - MPR’s Euan Kerr talks with St. Paul poet Jim Moore about collection "Invisible Strings." Moore reads from book.
April 15, 2011 - MPR Presents "Writing Minnesota," a special program highlighting Minnesota writers and authors. Program showcases some of the exciting literary work coming out of the state.
August 1, 2011 - Euan Kerr interviews Minnesota poet Robert Bly about his collection "Talking into the Ear of a Donkey." Bly reads from book. Segment also includes commentary about Bly from fellow poets Jim Lenfestey and Garrison Keillor, and wife Ruth.
August 23, 2011 - Governor Mark Dayton announced Joyce Sutphen, a college professor who lives in Chaska, will serve as the state's next poet laureate.