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Episode 2 - Life Distilled: Four Decades of U.S. Poet Laureates

From New Letters on the Air | Part of the Life Distilled: Four Decades of U.S. Poet Laureates series | 01:04:01
Producers: New Letters on the Air

Credit:
Episode 2 features former poet laureates from the 1990s: Joseph Brodsky, Mona Van Duyn and Robert Pinsky. They read some of their most famous poems and talk about the power of poetry. Optional 5-minute drop-in featuring Robert Pinsky also available.

SEGMENT A: Joseph Brodsky (1940-1996), a Russian poet exiled from the Soviet Union, became an American citizen and the poet laureate of the United States from 1991-92. In this interview with Rebekah Presson, Brodsky discusses his poet laureate initiative of introducing poetry into common public places, such as grocery stores and motel rooms. He co-founded the American Poetry and Literacy Project, with college student Andrew Carroll, which continues Brodsky's legacy. Brodsky died of a heart attack in 1996. (12 minutes)

MUSIC: Lara St. John, Bach Violin Concertos "BWV 1043: II - Largo," and "BWV 1041: I - Allegro," available at www.magnatune.com.

SEGMENT B: Mona Van Duyn (1921-2005), "Suburbia?s Poet," followed Brodsky to the Library of Congress, serving one term as Poet Laureate from 1992-93. Known for her work that personified the lives of Middle America, the Iowa-born Van Duyn's domestic poetry often did so with humor. This excerpt comes from both a 1984 public reading in Kansas City, and a 1991 interview with Rebekah Presson with readings from her Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Near Changes. (19 minutes)

MUSIC: Heavy Mellow, "Weaving," and "Long Ago and Far Away," available at www.magnatune.com.

SEGMENT C: The only poet laureate to serve three terms (1997-2000) Robert Pinsky became one of the most visible poet laureates due to his numerous media appearances. His "Favorite Poem Project," in which he asked Americans from all walks of life to identify their favorite poems, produced several best-selling anthologies and public readings. Here Pinsky talks with Kay Bonetti about his creative impulses and reads from his work, including The Figured Wheel: New and Selected poems, 1966-96, winner of the Lenore Marshall Prize from the Academy of American Poets. (19 minutes)

MUSIC: Drop Trio, "Melody, Melody," and "Slapjack," available at www.magnatune.com. Hide full description

SEGMENT A: Joseph Brodsky (1940-1996), a Russian poet exiled from the Soviet Union, became an American citizen and the poet laureate of the United States from 1991-92. In this interview with Rebekah Presson, Brodsky discusses his poet laureate initiative of introducing poetry into common public places, such as grocery stores and motel rooms. He co-founded the American Poetry and Literacy Project, with college student Andrew Carroll, which continues Brodsky's legacy. Brodsky died of a heart attack in 1996. (12 minutes) MUSIC: Lara St. John, Bach Violin Concertos "BWV 1043: II - Largo," and "BWV 1041: I - Allegro," availabl...
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Yolette Garcia

Posted on May 21, 2006 at 06:15 PM | Permalink

Review of Episode 2 - Life Distilled: Four Decades of U.S. Poet Laureates

The idea of recollecting the conversations and work of the U.S. poet laureates is a good one. Thanks to New Letters on the Air, listeners can gain a sense of who The Library of Congress deems representative of the American voice. Episode 2 gives a good sampling, albeit chronological, of who these poets are.

Beginning with Joseph Brodsky, the Soviet emigre, who would bring an everyday sensitivity to poetry, the program serves up a pastiche of interviews and readings. I wish all of the segments were more fluid and equally strong, but they aren't. The interview with Brodsky seems the weakest because of the interviewer's presumptions and Brodsky's rapid fire answers. I could barely hang on to it. However, the next segment with Mona Van Duyn settles in; her readings and conversation become soothing. Van Duyn also focuses on the everyday in her poetry, but talks about her breaking out from more personal poetry to writing about big ideas and changes in contemporary life.

Robert Pinsky, who is credited here with moving poetry into the 21st century because of his online work with Slate and his "Favorite Poem Project," really speaks to the rhythms and feel of poetry. As he observes, "Poetry is a column of air shaped into words." So is radio, and when you meet the perfect aural experience it's golden. Pinksy provides perfect moments with his readings. They are beautiful. One moment he is elegiac and another, pure jazz.
PRX is credited with helping New Letters on the Air get some bearings.

For a programmer, this episode would be good to include in a celebration of the spoken word. The full series should be considered in spite of this program's rough edges. Perhaps the best use would be to provide segments for podcasting. The program accommodates the NPR newscast at top for broadcasting.

Broadcast History

Series debut, consisting of previously recorded and previously broadcast episodes of NEW LETTERS ON THE AIR.

Timing and Cues

NOTE: This NPR news clock-friendly piece also contains a 5-minute segment for use in the NPR news hole, if stations do not use the news break. This piece also makes an excellent ME or ATC drop in, but is only available for stations licensing the entire piece.

00:00 TO 00:59 BILLBOARD
IN: "What does it take to make a U.S. Poet Laureate?..."
OUT: "...Four Decades of U.S. Poet Laureates with NEW LETTERS ON THE AIR. I'm Angela Elam."

01:00 TO 06:00 NEWS HOLE--SILENCE
******
Cues for optional drop-in with Robert Pinsky:
IN: "The U.S. Poet Laureate who ushered in the new millenium...
T: 5:59
OUT: ..."Shirt" is included in his award-winning collection "THE FIGURED WHEEL."
******
06:00 TO 06:29 MUSIC BREAK

06:30 TO 18:41 SEGMENT A - BRODSKY
IN: "In 1987, when Joseph Brodsky received the Nobel Prize..."
OUT: "...after Joseph Brodsky-- the late Mona Van Duyn-- in just a moment."

18:41 TO 19:11 MUSIC BREAK

19:11 TO 37:58 SEGMENT B - VAN DUYN
IN: "In 1992, Mona Van Duyn became the first woman..."
OUT: "...hear the poet who took us into the new millenium--Robert Pinsky in a moment."

37:58 TO 38:28 MUSIC BREAK

38:28 TO 59:00 SEGMENT C - PINSKY
IN: "1997 was a good year for New Jersey native, Robert Pinsky..."
OUT: "...Dennis Conrow, I'm Angela Elam for NEW LETTERS ON THE AIR."

Musical Works

Billboard:
Lara St. John - Track 8 BWV 1043: II Largo

Segment A:
Lara St. John - BWV: 1041 I: Allegro

Segment B:
Heavy Mellow, "Weaving," and "Long Ago and Far Away."

Segment C:
Drop Trio "Melody, Melody," and "Slapjack."

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