Sandra Cisneros recounts the creation of her works from her new release "Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories" as well as "House on Mango Street". The following have been removed due to copyright restrictions: "Eleven", "Mexican Movies", "Eyes of Zapata", "Bien Pretty" and "One Holy Night". From "House on Mango Street" she reads "A Smart Cookie", "Hips", "My Name", and "Mi Tocayo," "Those Who Don't."

Music performance by Oscar Brown, Jr.

Three distinguished Chicago poets — Michael Anania, Ralph Mills, and Lisel Mueller — read selections of their work and discuss the art and rhythm of poetry, influences and inspiration, and the power of memory. Includes a recording of Gwendolyn Brooks reading her poem, "The Rites for Cousin Vit."

Poet and editor Michael Anania discusses his poetry collection, “Riversongs” and reads selected works from the collection. Anania discusses the themes of place, transience, and permanence in the Midwest. Episode includes relevant music recordings, including a number of unidentified instrumental recordings and songs by Woody Guthrie, Los Jaivas, and Joni Mitchell.

Discussing the book, 'Uncommon Women', published in 1981. The book chronicles the lives of Gwendolyn Brooks, Julie Harris, Sarah Caldwell, Maria Tallchief, Alice Neel, Mary McCarthy, Eugenia Zukerman, Roberta Peters, and Mary Lou Williams, discussing the impressive things they have accomplished in their respective professions ranging from poetry, to opera, to literature, and art and abstraction.

Charlemae Hill Rollins and Studs Terkel read from "The Christmas Gif" and discuss it's importance in African American literature. The book is an anthology of Christmas poems, songs, and stories, written by and about Negroes, and compiled by librarian Charlemae Hill Rollins. The book was first published in 1963.