Piece image

What's the Word? Poet Michael S. Harper on the Poet's Art

From: Modern Language Association
Length: 09:54

Michael S. Harper talks about what he teaches in his poetry classes and reads some his favorite poems. Read the full description.

Michaels Poet Michael S. Harper talks about sharing the poet's art with his students at Yale and the importance of the "internal" neighborhoods of writers. He reads Gwendolyn Brooks's _We Real Cool_, Robert Hayden's _Those Winter Sundays_, and his own poem _Lady's Blues_ about the jazz singer Billy Holiday. This segment is from a recent edition of _What's the Word?_, produced by Sally Placksin and sponsored by the Modern Language Association of America. Well-suited to National Poetry Month in April. Photo: Michael S. Harper Photo Credit: Rachel Harper

To hear the full audio, sign up for a free PRX account or log in.

More from Modern Language Association

Caption: PRX default Piece image

What's the Word? Passing (29:00)
From: Modern Language Association

An exploration of writers and characters of mixed race
Caption: PRX default Piece image

What's the Word? Trujillo (29:00)
From: Modern Language Association

Three novels that explore Trujillo's influence on life in the Dominican Republic and in the diaspora
Caption: PRX default Piece image

What's the Word? The African Novel (29:00)
From: Modern Language Association

An exploration of the African novel
Caption: PRX default Piece image

What's the Word? Religion and the State (29:00)
From: Modern Language Association

Three writers whose work explores the intersection of religion and the state
Piece image

What's the Word? "Voices from the Ojibwe Nation" (29:00)
From: Modern Language Association

Three members of Ojibwe communities, which reach from Michigan to Montana in the United States and from Quebec to Saskatchewan in Canada, share their rich literary history.
Piece image

What's the Word? "American Indian and Alaska-Native Tribal Traditions" (29:10)
From: Modern Language Association

A celebration of American Indian and Alaska-Native tribal traditions
Piece image

What's the Word? Seeing 9/11 (28:58)
From: Modern Language Association

Three representations of the events of September 11th.
Piece image

What's the Word? Shakespeare after 9/11 (28:58)
From: Modern Language Association

A look at how the events of September 11th changed the way we read Shakespeare's plays about politics and leadership.
Piece image

What's the Word? Mystical Poets (29:00)
From: Modern Language Association

How do those who have experienced the direct presence of God capture this heightened state in words?
Piece image

What's the Word? Poetry for Children (29:00)
From: Modern Language Association

The poetry we hear—and create—as children teaches us about the power of words.

Piece Description

Poet Michael S. Harper talks about sharing the poet's art with his students at Yale and the importance of the "internal" neighborhoods of writers. He reads Gwendolyn Brooks's _We Real Cool_, Robert Hayden's _Those Winter Sundays_, and his own poem _Lady's Blues_ about the jazz singer Billy Holiday. This segment is from a recent edition of _What's the Word?_, produced by Sally Placksin and sponsored by the Modern Language Association of America. Well-suited to National Poetry Month in April. Photo: Michael S. Harper Photo Credit: Rachel Harper

Broadcast History

To be fed May 5, 2005

Additional Files

Related Website

http://www.mla.org/radio