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.
March 28, 1979 - MPR’s Nancy Fushan talks with feminist Black poet Audre Lorde about the power in her poetry. Segment also includes Lorde reading her poetry.
March 29, 1979 - MPR’s Tom Meersman talks with poet Lisel Mueller about her work. Segment includes Mueller reading her poetry.
March 30, 1979 - MPR’s Tom Meersman profiles poet Edward Dorn. Segment includes Dorn speaking and reading at Macalester College as part of this week's Midwestern Writers Festival.
April 11, 1979 - A profile of Minnesota poet and writer Paul Grukow. Program is a presentation of his work “The Tramp."It also includes commentary and music elements.
May 15, 1979 - Acclaimed poet Robert Bly's home is a farm near the Southwest Minnesota town of Madison, and he reads at nearby Southwest State University in Marshall. This appearance includes occasional dulcimer accompaniment as Bly performs and disect his own works as well as the works of others.
May 29, 1979 - Joe and Nancy Paddock presents South Dakota Penitentiary inmates who write poetry. The prison program is called Poets at the Pen.
June 18, 1979 - Minnesota poet Joe Paddock reads “Frogs,” a raucous small-town happening in a narrative poem style. “Frogs” was written by a native of Southwest Minnesota.
June 19, 1979 - Polka Power, a report and poetic response to the polka festival subculture in the Upper Midwest with poets Joe and Nancy Paddock.
June 20, 1979 - Minnesota poet Phil Dacey reads several of his poems. There is a musical accompaniment by his wife.
June 21, 1979 - Nancy Paddock shows her attempts to strike a balance with nature in poem “It's a Pity." Also includes musical elements.