Explore every episode of the podcast Essential American Poets

Recordings of poet Lorine Niedecker with an introduction to her life and work. Recorded at home in 1970. Recording courtesy of PennSound.

Recordings of poet Gertrude Stein, with an introduction to her life and work. Recorded in 1934. Recording courtesy of PennSound.

Recordings of former poet laureate Charles Simic, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded 2003, Key West, FL.

Recordings of poet Alan Dugan, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded in 1962, New York City, New York.

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Recordings of poet Gary Snyder, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded in 1966, Library of Congress, Washington DC.

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Recordings of poet Adrienne Rich, with an introduction to her life and work. Recorded in 2002 at the Audio Workshop in London

Recordings of poet Richard Hugo, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded in 1975, Library of Congress, Washington DC.

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Recordings of former poet laureate Robert Pinsky, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded in 2007, in studio, Boston, MA.

Archival recordings of poet Michael Palmer, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded in 1995 at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Archival recordings of poet A.R. Ammons, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded in 1963 at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Archival recordings of poet Jorie Graham, with an introduction to her life and work. Recorded in 1995 and 1998 at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Archival recordings of poet Robinson Jeffers, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded in 1941 at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Archival recordings of poet Carolyn Kizer, with an introduction to her life and work. Recorded in 1958 and 1973 in Seattle, WA, and at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

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Archival recordings of poet Muriel Rukeyser, with an introduction to her life and work. Recorded in 1962 at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

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Archival recordings of the poet Robert Creeley, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded in 1961, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

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Archival recordings of poet Lucille Clifton, with an introduction to her life and work. Recorded 1973 and 1989 at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Archival Recordings of former poet laureate poet Mona Van Duyn, with an introduction to her life and work. Recorded in 1966.

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Recordings of poet Kenneth Rexroth, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded October 25, 1965, Library of Congress, Washington DC.

Recordings of poet Louis Simpson, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded 1959 and 1966, Library of Congress, Washington DC.

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Archival recordings of the poet Wallace Stevens, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded in 1954, YMHA Poetry Center, New York, NY.

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Recordings of the poet Thylias Moss, with an introduction to her life and work. Recorded 2007, in studio, WBEZ, Chicago.

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Archival recordings of former poet laureate Stanley Kunitz, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded 2001, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Archival recordings of the poet Robert Hayden, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded 1968 and 1977, Library of Congress, Washington DC.

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Recordings of the poet Robert Bly, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded 2008, in studio, New York, NY.

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Archival recordings of Conrad Aiken reading his poems, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded 1959, Library of Congress, Washington DC.

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Archival recordings of the poet Denise Levertov, with an introduction to her life and work. Recorded 1976, Library of Congress, Washington DC.

Archival recordings of the poet Anthony Hecht, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded at Harvard University.

Archival recordings of the poet Allen Tate, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded in 1947, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

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Recordings of the poet Billy Collins, with an introduction to his life and work.

Recordings of the poet Sharon Olds, with an introduction to her life and work.

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Archival recordings of the poet Carl Sandburg, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded in 1954, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

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Archival recordings of the poet Josephine Miles, with an introduction to her life and work. Recorded in 1981, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

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Archival recordings of the poet William Matthews, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded in 1979, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

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Archival recordings of the poet George Oppen, with an introduction to his life and work.

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Recordings of the poet Carolyn Forché, with an introduction to her life and work. Recorded 2008, in studio, New York, NY.

Archival recordings of the poet Delmore Schwartz, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded at the National Poetry Festival, in 1962.

Archival recordings of the poet Jane Kenyon, with an introduction to her life and work. Recorded 1988, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Archival recordings of poet Robert Duncan, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded 1976, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

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Recordings of poet W.S. Merwin, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded 1999, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

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Archival recordings of poet Barbara Guest, with an introduction to her life and work. Recorded 1969, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Recordings of poet Thomas McGrath, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded 1960, KPFK Radio, Los Angeles, CA.

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Archival recordings of poet E.E. Cummings, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded at the YMHA Poetry Center New York, NY in 1959.

Archival recordings of poet W. D. Snodgrass, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded 1963, Library of Congress, Washington DC, and 2007, Baldwinsville, NY.

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Archival recordings of poet Howard Nemerov, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded 1962 and 1964, Library of Congress, Washington DC.

Archival recordings of poet Anne Sexton, with an introduction to her life and work. Recorded in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1960.

Archival recordings of poet Weldon Kees, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded in Berkeley, California in 1952.

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Archival recordings of poet James Schuyler, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded at the Chelsea Hotel in New York in 1986, and at the San Francisco Art Institute in 1989.

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Archival recordings of poet William Stafford, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded 1970 and 1978, Library of Congress.

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Recordings of John Ashbery, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded 2008, New York, NY.

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Recordings of Robert Hass, with an introduction to his life and work. Recorded 2007, New York, NY.

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