November 13, 2009
From religious ceremonies to children's games, poetry holds a central place in human communities, though some may take it for granted.
In 1985, poet
Stanley Kunitz and arts administrator Elizabeth Kray founded Poets House to be a community built around poetry. First housed in an old school house in New York City's SoHo district, they meant it to be "a home for all who read and write poetry." With rising rents pricing Poets House out of SoHo, the organization recently moved to a large rent-free space on the Hudson River, with a lease through 2069.
BILL MOYERS JOURNAL was there for the opening day ceremonies, along with many poets who came to read their work and talk about the importance of having a physical space for poetry in 21st Century America
>>Find out more about the poets in the piece.Poet Mark Doty expressed the importance of Poets House, "It means a place to think, to meditate, to read, to refresh the spirit in the way that poetry can. And it seems to me that if New York City ever needed a place of respite, it needs it now."
Stanley Kunitz
Serving twice as Poet Laureate of the United States, Stanley Kunitz was an influential poet and tireless advocate for the form, remaining active in the poetry community as a writer, activist, and mentor to young poets until his death, at the age of 100, in 2006.
His published poetry spans much of the 20th century, from his first book INTELLECTUAL THINGS, in 1930, to PASSING THROUGH: THE LATER POEMS, NEW AND SELECTED, in 1995. His last book was published on his 100th birthday, THE WILD BRAID: A POET REFLECTS ON A CENTURY IN THE GARDEN, with Genine Lentine, featuring photographs by Marnie Crawford Samuelson.
You can learn more about Stanley Kunitz on the
Poets House Web site, and at the
Poetry Foundation Web site, where you can read poems by Stanley Kunitz as well as memorials written for him by other poets.
W.S. Merwin On the heels of winning this year's Pulitzer prize for poetry, W.S. Merwin joins Bill Moyers for a wide-ranging conversation about language, his writing process, the natural world, and the insights gleaned from a much-lauded career of more than 50 years. W.S. Merwin is the author of 21 volumes of poetry and won his second Pulitzer Prize for his most recent collection, THE SHADOW OF SIRIUS. (June 26, 2009)
Nikki Giovanni Bill Moyers sits down with renowned poet Nikki Giovanni, whose 27 books have spanned the themes of race, politics, sex and violence. (February 13, 2009)
Robert Bly Bill Moyers talks with poet Robert Bly about greed in America, divinity and happiness. (August 31, 2007)
Martín Espada Bill Moyers talks with poet Martín Espada about the power of words to effect social change. (July 20, 2007)
Poems: Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace Read excerpts of writings collected from Maxine Hong Kingston's workshops with veterans and their families. (May 25, 2007)
Reading Rumi Poet Coleman Barks is also known for his translations of the great 13th century Islamic poet and teacher, Jalaladdin Rumi. In 2003, Barks appeared on NOW WITH BILL MOYERS, reading three of Rumi's poems. Not only is Rumi's work heard on radio throughout the Arab world, he is a best-selling poet in America.
Poets House Web SiteInformation about Poets House, its programs and upcoming events.
FOOLING WITH WORDS Part 1Bill Moyers special from 1999, with poetry readings and interviews from Stanley Kunitz, Mark Doty and Kurt Lamkin, among others.
FOOLING WITH WORDS Part 2
More About the Poets
Cornelius EadyPoems, background information and links at the
Poetry Foundation.
Billy CollinsPoems, background information and links at the
Poetry Foundation.
Mark DotyPoems, background information and links at the
Poetry Foundation.
Marie HowePoems, background information and links at the
Poetry Foundation.
Marie PonsotPoems, background information and links at the
Poetry Foundation.
Philip LevinePoems, background information and links at the
Poetry Foundation.
Bob HolmanPoems, background information and links at his
official site.
Reggie CabicoSeveral poems available at the
Deleware Poetry Review and at
WashingtonArt.com.
Kurt LamkinSee him read a poem in Bill Moyers' special
FOOLING WITH WORDS, and read an interview with him on
PERISCOPE.
