First American Poetry Series - Vol III - James Wright

[@adrianzandi319]

I can listen to him read poems all day and night. Thank you for uploading this.

[@KnowledgeVariable]

He has got such a calming presence.

[@PoorHoward9]

Thanks for putting this on RUclips!

[@tejasnair3399]

As a native Ohioan hearing Mr Wright say “We have plenty of interesting things in Ohio” I found myself thinking ‘..nobody laugh at that!’

[@peterjonas4971]

"Therefore" is the lynch-pin of my favorite poem by Wright. Thak you for posting this.

[@christophercitro9595]

Thank you for posting this James Wright reading. 🙏

[@zacbodine1336]

As I Stepped over a Puddle at the End of Winter, I Think of An Ancient Governor
(From: The Branch Will Not Break *Pg. 119)
5:00-6:57
Two Poems About President Harding
(From: The Branch Will Not Break, *pg. 127)
8:21-13:53
A Note Left in Jimmy Leonard’s Shack
(From: Saint Judas, *Pg. 53)
17:26-19:09
Autumn Begins in Martin’s Ferry Ohio
(From: The Branch Will Not Break *Pg. 121)
19:55-21:00
Not in Marble Palaces (Translation of Pedro Salinas, from: Some Translations: Collected Poems, 1971, and New Translations *Pg. 114)
22:07-24:23
Stages on a Journey Westward
(From: The Branch Will Not Break *Pg. 124)
25:42-29:10
From a Bus Window in Central Ohio, Just Before a Thunder Shower
(From: The Branch Will Not Break *Pg. 135)
30:24-31:12
To the Evening Star: Central Minnesota
(From: The Branch Will Not Break *Pg. 142)
32:06-33:05
A Blessing
(From: The Branch Will Not Break *Pg. 143)
33:25-35:09
Northern Pike
(From: New Poems / From Collected Poems, 1971 *Pg. 217)
40:20-41:40
The Old WPA Swimming Pool In Martins Ferry Ohio
(From: Two Citizens *Pg. 236)
43:15-45:40
Piccolini
(From: To a Blossoming Pear Tree *Pg. 302)
48:42-50:00
[Paragraph 2 of] Two Moments in Venice: II. City of Evenings
(From: To a Blossoming Pear Tree *Pg. 308)
50:24-51:50
Hook
(From: To a Blossoming Pear Tree *Pg. 315)
52:48-55:04
*Page numbers are for Above The River: The Collected Poems by James Wright

[@adrianrice9450]

Wonder-full.

[@rtbyrne300]

To hear James Wright read the greatest political poem in American history gives me chills. (7:45)

[@fd-ci1fp]

these things matter. bravo, Ccm.

[@winkydinkydoodlebug]

In Jonathan Blunk's excellent biography of Wright, the date given for this is Sept 30, 1976.

[@Muse060558]

Great poet. "A Blessing" 33:15 (34:59 !). "The Old WPA Swimming Pool in Martins Ferry, Ohio" 41:55 . (45:14 !)

[@tubergetrude333]

was this reading at ccm?

[@CountyCollegeMorris]

Based on the credits, it would appear that this was recorded on campus. CCM did host regular poetry readings and other orators on campus back then, so it is likely that this was recorded on campus.

[@tubergetrude333]

@@CountyCollegeMorris Nice work, CCM. James Wright is one of our greatest poets. He came to my college in Pennsylvania at the time and gave a similar reading. He even got a big laugh with the joke about the cow's tits...I am pleased to see that CCM has uncovered and shared this cultural treasure.

[@christophermorgan3261]

Don't think I've ever seen a podium reading where a writer lights a cigarette. Wright died of lip cancer.

[@f.w.2054]

Late 50s, early 60s????

[@CountyCollegeMorris]

Likely early 70s as the college was founded in the late 60s

[@WickedHole]

cont. from 43:15