Nick Lantz Reading 4/14

Carly Yuenger

Poet Nick Lantz will be on our show this Thursday to talk about his two new books of poetry. Nick's work is engaging, inventive, and at times political. It's sure to be a great show, but we don't want you to miss out on his reading happening before then, so here are the details:

Brittingham/Pollak Poetry Prize Reading:
Wednesday, April 14th, 7:00 pm,
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Helen C. White Hall, Room 6191
Call 415-596-3027 with questions
Click here for more information

He'll be reading from his newest book, The Lightening That Strikes the Neighbors' House, which has been awarded the 2010 Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry.

You may also remember Nick's poem, “Will There Be More Than One ‘Questioner’?” from his first book, We Don't Know We Don't Know. We recorded him reading it and featured it throughout our show on the alleged cover-up of three murders at Guantanamo Bay Prison.

Jean's Pick of the Week for March 19th

Joe Hardtke

Jean's pick this week may just mark the return of a popular series we once produced for the show. It's something we're seriously considering and you'll see why when you watch.



Of course, we'd love your feedback on this idea and to listen to Jean's Pick of the Week, visit the Here on Earth archive and download the free mp3.

Thanks, as always, for listening!

World Poetry Day! 3/18

Carly Yuenger

On Thursday's show Susan Harris of Words Without Borders introduces us to a world of poetry just opening to us English speakers. As always, Words Without Borders is blazing a trail for us by bringing world literature to us in translation.

International poetry is the theme of this month's online WWB publication and is the subject of their most recent print anthology, which also came out this month. It's no coincidence that Sunday, March 21st is World Poetry Day... And, since it's also the spring equinox, here's a seasonal taste of the collection:

Yen Chen
(China, Twentieth Century)

The Plum Hint

Plums have bloomed, comrades.
Plum blossoms beckon you to come.
The productive team- captain plucks a branch,
and smiles as he walks into the village.

The snow on thousands of hills melted in one night.
A spout of water turns greener than before.
Listen! The cuckoo in the tree
also changes his new tune.

Outside the village, ponds are full,
ditches dug, and millets green.
Inside the village the cows are fat,
horses strong, and carts adorned.
Who is trying the new whip?
The snapping is so strong!

The windows are open in every house.
In every mansion the doors are wide.
Oh, spring has come!
without signs or signals in advance.

Plums have bloomed, comrades.
The plum gardens crimson like clouds.
O you thousands of full- blooming plums
are like the ten thousand hearts of our commune members.

~Translated from the Chinese by Arthur Sze