Literary figures/poets

Poet Michael Ryan. Ryan's poems have earned him a Guggenheim Fellowship and a nomination for the National Book Award. He's just released his third collection of poems, called "God Hunger."

Poet Mark Halliday reads two poems about the passage of time.

Poet Mark Halliday reads one of his works.

Poet and essayist June Jordan. In her poems and political essays, she addresses issues of racism, oppression and dispossession. She was born in Harlem and grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn. She currently teaches English at the University of California at Berkeley.

Book critic John Leonard reviews a new biography of Allan Ginsberg.

Egyptian-born poet Gregory Djanikian (ja-NIK-ee-ann) reads a poem about his early memories of moving to America and starting school.

Poet Li-Young Lee. He was born into a family of political refugees from China. They traveled throughout Asia for years to escape persecution. In the mid-60's his family moved to Pennsylvania. Lee's poems reflect his struggle with his Chinese heritage - a heritage to which he is bound but in which he never lived. His poems also reflect Lee's attempt to come to terms with the powerful and mythic figure of his father, who was alternately imprisoned and revered for his beliefs.

Poet Mark Halliday reads a short work titled "Fort Brag." The poem is an ode to people who are absolutely certain about most everything. Halliday, an English professor at the University of Pennsylvania, is a regular contributor to Fresh Air.

Poet Mark Halliday reads one his latest works. Halliday, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, has read several of his poems on Fresh Air.

Poet Mark Halliday returns to Fresh Air to read one of his latest works. Halliday, an English professor at the University of Pennsylvania, has published several books of poetry. The most recent is titled Little Star.