Mitchell L. H. Douglas is an Associate Professor of English, and the director of the creative writing program at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). He is also a founding member of the Affrilachian Poets , a Cave Canem fe

The Poetry Break: William Bronk

May 18th, 2017 5m 7s

West Virginia's poet laureate Marc Harshman highlights here work of the late William Bronk. Bronk won the National Book Award for poetry in 1981 long before his death in 1999. Do not look to Bronk for metaphor or imagery, but instead - masterfu

The Poetry Break: Steve Scafidi

Apr 20th, 2017 8m 22s

As a young man Steve Scafidi hungered "for something like magnificence." Or so he explained when asked by Marc Harshman how he came to writing poetry. "I found it reading aloud some Walt Whitman one evening and I never quit," Scafidi said in co

The Poetry Break: George Ella Lyon

Jan 19th, 2017 4m 42s

Host Marc Harshman calls her, “the most ‘can-do-anything’ poet in America.” George Ella Lyon is a novelist, essayist, teacher, activist, musician, lyricist, children’s author, playwright, and poet. She was named poet laureate of Kentucky in 201

The Poetry Break: Believe What You Can

Dec 15th, 2016 7m 23s

Marc Harshman, poet laureate of West Virginia has just seen his second full length collection of poetry published by the Vandalia Press at West Virginia University called Believe What You Can .

The Poetry Break: Linda Pastan

Nov 17th, 2016 8m 5s

Linda Pastan has had a prolific career during the course of which she won the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize and twice was named a finalist for the National Book Award. She is, as well, past poet laureate of Maryland.

The Poetry Break: Richard Hague

Sep 22nd, 2016 10m 25s

Richard Hague was raised in that northern outpost of Appalachia, Steubenville, Ohio, and has lived his adult life in another Appalachian city of Ohio, Cincinnati. The author of over eight books of poetry, and numerous chapbooks, his collected v

The Poetry Break: Nikki Giovanni

Aug 17th, 2016 8m 56s

She was born in Knoxville and raised in Cincinnati. The poems of Nikki Giovanni reflect her pride as both a black American woman, and an author with deep roots in Appalachia. She is revered not only for her poetry but for her work as essayist,

The Poetry Break: Jayne Anne Phillips

Jul 21st, 2016 6m 58s

Jayne Anne Phillips is one of the finest novelists living in America today. Her many books have garnered honors that include being a finalist for the National Book Award and National Book Critics Circle Award, short listed for the prestigious O

The Poetry Break: Jeff Mann

Jun 23rd, 2016 5m 51s

Raised in Covington, Virginia, and Hinton West Virginia, Jeff Mann is an author of novels, essays, short fiction, a memoir, and poems. A significant portion of his work examines the LGBTQ experience, especially as witnessed in Appalachia. He’s

The Poetry Break: Maggie Anderson

May 19th, 2016 7m 15s

This month's Poetry Break features the work of Maggie Anderson. "Maggie Anderson is that rare gift [to all writers] in that she is held in equal esteem as not only a superlative poet but a superlative teacher," said March Harshman. "Professor E

The Poetry Break: Robert Morgan

Apr 21st, 2016 9m 3s

Robert Morgan is a native of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Essayist, novelist, teacher, short-story author, poet, and “an unassuming gentleman and a friend to artists everywhere,” Harshman said. His novel Gap Creek was a selection

The Poetry Break: Louise McNeill

Mar 16th, 2016 6m 40s

West Virginia Poet Laureate Marc Harshman delivers the poetry of his predecessor's predecessor in this Poetry Break, Louise McNeill . "I know I'm in the presence of a truly superior poet when I go back and rediscover poems and realize how amazi

The Poetry Break: Irene McKinney

Feb 17th, 2016 7m 10s

West Virginia Poet Laureate Marc Harshman delivers the poetry of his predecessor in this Poetry Break. Irene McKinney was a remarkable woman, greatly admired as a poet and teacher, " Harshman said. "She was the kind of poet who could accomplish

The Poetry Break: Marc Harshman

Jan 20th, 2016 10m 25s

A new podcast from West Virginia Public Broadcasting features poets from Appalachia and around the world. The Poetry Break is hosted and curated by West Virginia Poet Laureate Marc Harshman. Harshman delivers poems and commentary, and the first

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