Poets on the Plains

Hi, this is Janice Northerns, coming to you from Wichita, Kansas, for Poets on the Plains. I’m going to share a poem today by an amazing writer, Rachel Seth Coleman, who was one of the first people I met when I moved to Kanas 27 years ago. Rachel grew up in southwest Kansas, but her father was born in India and emigrated to the U. S. at the age of 14.

Hi. I’m Allison Adelle Hedge Coke, a poet born in Amarillo, here for Poets on the Plains. I’ve got coffee on the table and I’m sharing a poem with you by another High Plains Texas-born poet, Jonathan Fink, whose work encapsulates nuances perhaps only known by those familiar and whose family also lived and wrote this place.

Hi, I’m Benjamin Myers, a former Oklahoma Poet Laureate here for Poetry on the Plains. Today I’d like to share with you a poem by the excellent Oklahoma poet, Paul Bowers. Bowers is recently retired from teaching writing and literature at Northern Oklahoma College and lives with his wife on a ten-acre farm in Ringwood, Oklahoma.

My name is Jewell Rodgers and I am the State Poet of Nebraska. This week I bring to you M. Timothy Nolting who is also, much like one of my other favorite poets Natalie G’Schwind –– a cowboy poet. I met him in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, during my State Poet travels.

Hi, I’m Juan J. Morales, an assistant professor of English at Colorado College and a poet in Pueblo, Colorado, here for Poets on the Plains. Today I’m excited to share with you a poem by Lisa Zimmerman, titled, “Perhaps the Truth Depends.”

Hi, this is Janice Northerns, coming to you from Wichita, Kansas, for Poets on the Plains. I’d like to share with you today a delightful poem by Roy Beckemeyer, who is the author of five poetry collections. Roy is also a retired engineering executive and scientific journal editor.

Hi. I’m Allison Adelle Hedge Coke, a poet born in Northwest Texas, here for Poets on the Plains. I’ve got some hot tea on the table and I’m here to offer a poem titled “Wait Until It Grows Roots” written by a poet raised in Midland, Tarfia Faizullah.

Hi, there. I’m Benjamin Myers, a poet from Chandler, Oklahoma, and I’m here to share with you a poem by Oklahoma writer Jeanetta Calhoun Mish. Jeanetta Calhoun Mish has influenced literature in Oklahoma as a writer, a professor, a publisher, an editor, an intellect, and a mighty presence.

Hi, I’m Juan J. Morales, an assistant professor of English at Colorado College and a poet in Pueblo, Colorado, here for Poets on the Plains. Today, I’m excited to share with you a poem by fellow Pueblo poet, Mark Chartier, titled, “Kindergarten.”

My name is Jewell Rodgers and I am the State Poet of Nebraska and this week we are bringing Gina Tranisi to the stage. Gina is a poet, educator, and lifelong Nebraskan. She is a grants manager with Fox Creek Fundraising and is proud to help nonprofits grow their financial capacity and do more good in the community.