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Former United States Poet Laureate Charles Simic

Series: New Letters on the Air
From: New Letters on the Air
Length: 00:30:30

Former United States Poet Laureate Charles Simic talks about humor in his poetry, growing up in wartime Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and his love for jazz. He reads from THE VOICE AT 3 A.M. and talks about THE MONSTER LOVES HIS LABRYINTH. Read the full description.
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Piece Description

Former United States Poet Laureate Charles Simic (2007-08) talks about humor in his poetry, growing up in wartime Belgrade, and his love for jazz.  He reads from THE VOICE AT 3 A.M. and talks about THE MONSTER LOVES HIS LABRYINTH. 

from SELECTED EARLY POEMS Simic reads:
"My Beloved"
"My Shoes"

from THE VOICE AT 3 A.M.:
"Lost Glove"
"Sunday Papers"
"Car Graveyard"

Interview by New Letters magazine editor Robert Stewart; program hosted by New Letters on the Air assistant producer Dennis Conrow

Broadcast History

Distributed for national broadcast via PRSS' Content Depot

Timing and Cues

PROMO: On the next NEW LETTERS ON THE AIR. . . It's National Poetry Month. Kicking off the month-long celebration is a conversation with former United States Poet Laureate Charles Simic. A native of Yugoslavia, he immigrated to the U.S. in the 1950s when he was a teenager, and that's when he learned English. He talks about the experience of being the 15th poet Laureate, as well as how his sardonic, offbeat sense of humor creeps into his work. Charles Simic, next time on NEW LETTERS ON THE AIR...

PROGRAM LENGTH: 29:00 minutes
INCUE: (music) "For someone who didn't learn to speak English until he was..."
OUTCUE: "... Thanks for listening to NEW LETTERS ON THE AIR."

Musical Works

Title Artist Album Label Year Length
Caravan Thelonious Monk 00:10
Reflections Thelonious Monk 00:10
Straight, No Chaser Thelonious Monk 00:10

Additional Credits

University of Missouri-Kansas City
Missouri Arts Council, a State Agency
Midwest Poets Series, Rockhurst University

Related Website

www.newletters.org/radio