In an interview with Studs Terkel, Buddhist monk, peace activist, and poet Thich Nhat Hanh. The conversation focuses on the devastating effects of the Vietnam War; they discuss the loss of culture and poetry in Vietnam, the anti-war protestors in America and Vietnam, and the sadness and resignation of the Vietnamese. Thich Nhat Hanh talks about America’s role in the war, and his experiences campaigning for peace in the United States and speaking with U.S. anti-war veterans.

Bly speaks about how poetry is used as a form of communication in the Soviet Union. Timpanelli shares her appreciation for the art of storytelling. Both were in town for an appearance at The Jung Institute.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Reading short stories and poems

Terkel comments and reads poetry with Gary Merrill

Many of the great 20th century poets were published for the first time in Poetry Magazine. Among the poets discussed here are Robert Frost, e e cummings, Wallace Stevens, Ogden Nash, Richard Wilber, Gwendolyn Brooks, and W.H. Auden.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Rose Styron and Studs read works by exiled writers and performers and discuss Amnesty International.

Discussing the book of poetry "The Garden of Earthly Delights" with poet Paul Carroll, winner of the 1985 Chicago Poets Award.

Interviewing poet Paul Carroll.Excerpt of WFMT tape with Gregory Corso, etc. 1/1959.

Ntozake Shange discusses her play, "for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf." She goes on to discuss her advocacy for more Black authors and poets, especially in experimental artistic endeavors.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Studs Terkel interviews composer Ned Rorem. They discuss Rorem's childhood, music, poetry, languages, and religion.

Poet and editor Michael Anania discusses his poetry collection, “The Color of Dust” and reads selected works from the collection. Anania discusses Midwest history and geography and his own Nebraska roots as influences on the work and its themes of love, war, and social issues. Episode includes relevant music and theatrical recordings, including “Immortality” read by William Jennings Bryan, “Rake and Rambling Boy,” Jefferson Airplane’s “Somebody to Love,” “Dust Bowl Refugee” by Woody Guthrie, and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

Canadian poet and novelist Margaret Atwood discusses her poetry and her first novel, “Surfacing,” focusing on the novel’s symbolism and the themes of nature, religion and memory. She compares life, attitudes, and politics in Canada with those of the United States.

Marcel Marceau, a French mime, discusses the art behind mime including silence, humanity, and astonishment. Parts of an earlier interview with Marceau are also played.

Includes Lawrence Ferlinghetti reading and discussing his poems from his books "A Coney Island State of Mind" and "Big Table."

Janis Ian discusses her career, life, and her songs. The songs she talks about are "Society's Child", "Janey's Blues", "Honey D'Ya Think", "There Are Times", "Shady Acres", and "Lonely One". Janis Ian also discusses society, race relations, and responsibility. Includes Studs Terkel reading Janis Ian's poem "Poem One". Includes Janis Ian reading her poem.