Piece Description

The Maine Arts Commission says, there are more poets in Maine, per capita, than any other state. The reason is fairly straightforward: Maine is a frontier. Maine is the last stop in the United States on the east coast before Canada. ?The end of the line,? some say. The state lies at the northern edge of the urban buzz of the megalopolis ? the sprawl of Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C. And that ?edge-ness? is attractive to poets ? poets who desire an artistic environment without the stress of big city life. Poets who want the natural world closer to their daily lives. And poets who welcome the warmth of small, supportive communities. Plus, Maine has an extensive university system and creative economy. So, in short, poetry thrives in Maine. Words From the Frontier: Poetry in Maine presents a wide-ranging sample of verse from the state?s flourishing poetry scene. This program includes the work of the following poets in the order that they appear: Baron Wormser, Candice Stover, Wes McNair, Jeffrey Thompson, Kate Barnes, Elizabeth Tibbetts, Annie Finch, Pat Ranzoni, Adrian Blevins, Christian Barter, Kathleen Ellis, Ted Enslin, Gary Lawless, Nate Amadon, and Ira Sadoff This program was produced in 2008 for WMPG-FM, Greater Portland Community Radio from the University of Southern Maine. Our collaborating partner was the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance. Music featured in the program is from the Penguin Cafe Orchestra.