On January 20, 2009, Elizabeth Alexander was vaulted onto a stage few poets ever see when she was asked to compose and read a poem, "Praise Song for the Day," at the inauguration of President Barack Obama. Her latest book…

Oct 18

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Elizabeth Alexander was born in Harlem, raised in Washington, D.C., and attended Yale University, where she now teaches African American Studies. She is the author of six books of poems, including most recently, "Crave Radiance: New and Selected Poems 1990-2010."…

Elizabeth Alexander was born in Harlem, raised in Washington, D.C., and attended Yale University, where she now teaches African American Studies. She is the author of six books of poems, including most recently, "Crave Radiance: New and Selected Poems 1990-2010."…

John Taggart is the author of 14 volumes of poetry. From 1969 to 2001, he taught in the English Department and directed the Interdisciplinary Arts Program at Shippensburg University. Taggart's new book of poems, "Is Music," will be published in…

Matthew Zapruder is the author of three collections of poetry: "American Linden," "The Pajamaist" and "Come On All You Ghosts" (Copper Canyon, Fall 2010). He is editor for Wave Books and teaches in the low residency MFA program at UC…

John Taggart is the author of 14 volumes of poetry. From 1969 to 2001, he taught in the English Department and directed the Interdisciplinary Arts Program at Shippensburg University. Taggart's new book of poems, "Is Music," will be published in…

Austin Kleon is a Texas-based poet, writer, cartoonist and designer. He's found a playful way of making poetry from discarded newspapers, as demonstrated in his new book "Newspaper Blackout." Jeffrey Brown reports as part of the NewsHour's poetry series.

Sep 13

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Sandra Beasley is the author of "I Was the Jukebox," winner of the 2009 Barnard Women Poets Prize, and "Theories of Falling," winner of the 2007 New Issues Poetry Prize.