Poetry Reading: Ted Kooser

U.S. Poet Laureate (2004-2006) Ted Kooser is a major poetic voice for rural and small town America and the award-winning author of ten collections of poetry, most recently 2004's Pulitzer Prize-winning Delights and Shadows. Nebraskan Kooser often draws from his native Great Plains and his poems are acclaimed for their simple, straightforward style. Kooser reads from his poetry before a standing-room only audience in Campbell Hall at UC Santa Barbara. [8/2005] [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 9537]

[@lisag6]

Next time someone tells you they don't like poetry, give them this video! Deep humanity, kindness, a sense of wonder and breathtaking imagery. I have listened to this several times because it's enchanting.

[@annemccrady]

Ted Kooser reminds us that the poetic is the essence of our everyday lives. We just need to catch it in the net of our words.

[@TimGreigPhotography]

There is poetry in everything and Ted Kooser is a shining example of that. His extended metaphors are beautifully crafted and he describes the simple and sometimes mundane slices of life with a masters touch.

[@hatleeband]

These poems are wonderful!

[@Bokescreek]

Koozer was essentially unnoticed for the first many decades of his career. He worked a day job and persisted in his writing with a very limited audience, if any. Most of these poems were written before he had any significant recognition. While I understand the intent of your comment--and in many contexts would agree with it--you may've missed it, it seems to me, with Koozer. It's hard for me to imagine a less arrogant poet laureate--or a less arrogant poet, for that matter.

[@marybaxter8722]

I just might try writing poetry again at age 85. Thank you Mr. Kooser

[@lisahayden1355]

I love his poetry

[@fallingzeppelin69]

beautiful. i love listening to these

[@UnionKid15]

My favorite poet right now, I love his poetry.

[@jillval7]

As for those who just see an old man, with disdain for his age and unique wisdom, well. . .one day, if you're lucky, you'll be old and may have gained some well-earned wisdom of your own. In some worlds, people respect elder wisdom and do not expect nor desire every human manifestation to be young, dramatically flashy, hip, or without human flaws.

[@jillval7]

I suppose the calls for “more passion” display a need for stimulation in short bursts of attention-grabbing soundbites, something to which we're all subjected today by a world that increasingly mostly wants to sell us something. He's not selling anything. He's observing and sharing by showing.

[@jillval7]

I'm also concerned that people don't seem to have the patience to listen to the keenly observed world of ordinary people and objects Mr. Kooser's poetry is about, since that is the very world we all do live in, no matter where we are. But perhaps they are simply from other hurried worlds where there's no time for keen observation or appreciation of wry subtleties.

[@turtlelakend]

Great poetry reading, extraordinary artist.

[@melodykentucky]

I'm amazed at the places where the audience doesn't clap. Each poem was a materpiece.

[@jillval7]

I pity those who can't hear the poetry for the lip-smacking. I suppose they've never had anything go wrong with their own bodies. How else does intolerance arise? I've listened to people who've had strokes, people with accents, people with speech impediments. I never considered it my right to be rude about those persons' difficulties with speech. Instead, I made the effort to hear what they had to say. That's the humane response. (I have also been a teacher of speech communication).

[@ubiquim]

To hear Newton Minow's actual voice on this clip is phenomenal for me. Thanks. I have been trying to digress his speech for a few years now, and this puts it into perspective for me, decidedly I find it the most poetic of all...

[@proudmom514]

I lived in Nebraska for seven years. It's really nice there. GO Huskers!

[@unmannedlab]

Handsome Poet, I have written a poem...or more..and this is what I found: it is so easy for others to not see all the nuances of meaning in the poem. Or, even read the heart of the poet. They often see what their experience guides them toward. This is what happened when I read your poem. I'm so sorry that I was so sure that I could read a message that might not have been meant by you. Its not so easy to be a poet!

[@foreverforgiving]

Thanks so much for this. I meant to save it for later but couldn't help myself - seduced by it. Love Kooser.

[@UnionKid15]

An amazing contemporary poet, thanks for the post, great stuff..!!!

[@Anointed7]

Nice gentle poems like sunlight falling on the fingers of the grass.

[@timeless4320]

-the special reading and the special sound...!

[@TriggeredSymphony]

Poetry does not have a very wide modern audience. The fact that anyone is listening to this at all is borderline miraculous considering how modern society generally views poetry and how it is chronically slaughtered in public educational systems. What baffles me is that there is so much chronic, vapid negativity in the comment sections on readings like this. Don't like the poetry? Great - don't listen to it. Don't like the poet? Fine - whatever suites you.

[@DrNick1010]

Quite hilarious what he said about the Hobbit thing. I met him today and was thinking that as well.

[@UnionKid15]

Thanks a lot for posting this video.

[@scottsprunger]

I've been reading some of the comments below about how Ted has no soul, whether or not this is the best poetry wee have in a country of 300 million and so on. What a shame that people do not see this poetry for what it truly is. It is America, the real America. The song of everyday, the white noise of our lives that many of us choose to ignore. It is the beauty of the people of the United States of America. Perhaps you should all really read his poetry and forget about being artsy.

[@anonymousscientist7912]

“the wind turned pages of rain”

[@varasuetamminga9519]

Lobocraspis griseifusa by Ted Kooser ~ DELIGHTS & SHADOWS This is the tiny moth who lives on tears, who drinks like a deer at the gleaming pool at the edge of the sleeper's eye, the touch of its mouth as light as a cloud's reflection. In your dream, a moonlit figure appears at your bedside and touches your face. He asks if he might share the poor bread of your sorrow. You show him the table. The two of you talk long into the night, but by morning the words are forgotten. You awaken serene, in a sunny room, rubbing the dust of his wings from your eyes.

[@dennisfowler6916]

+Vara Sue Tamminga Reminds me of a scared cricket who came in from the cold that I couldn't bring myself to swat, so I shewed it away with a tissue, and it crawled, half numb from my air conditioning, under my ottoman near the warm tv. What is Lobocraspis Grisefusa ? -- a genus and species of the MONARCH BUTTERFLY of MOTHS or what ?

[@wildcomfort88]

wish i had more money i would have watched it all. cool poetry anyway, i might go out and buy the book.

[@missface504]

I love Ted Kooser!

[@luksikajiramonai6093]

great

[@keylawk]

"...the tiny moth that lives on tears"....oh my

[@TriggeredSymphony]

(2) What doesn't seem constructive is the need to belittle what poetic energies are still present in the 21st century.

[@cathbak51]

Applaussssss!!!

[@jillval7]

Finally, I pity those who have neither the insight nor patience to gain something from readings like this. Why not go watch a music video instead? Some comments judge the very selection of a poet laureate. Yet, I want to wonder . . . where are their own laurels?

[@youwhatnow]

Very good, but is there a name for that squelching sound Ted Kooser makes when he opens his mouth before speaking?

[@artistgkovach]

Check out the poetry from my first youtube video in a series of thirty poems from my artist web site and give your evaluations. Put in psychotic episode 107 in the youtube search box then go to the web site at the end. It's about incorporating poems into the actual artwork to read as you view the paintings. Let me know what you think, spread the site! Thanks!

[@ineby42]

Butch I could tell by your comment, let alone your moniker, that you are young man whose massive testerone levels have (temporarily) neutralised your capacity to appreciate subtlety. These poems are not 'vapid' and 'toothless'; they are testament to a deep humanism. When your angry-young-man gig is over, come back to them.

[@mamoako1521]

Poetry Rewards Rereading

[@minheelee7005]

Video quality is quite surprising. Feels like watching a video taken around the time JF kennedy was alive.

[@amriteshmishra2676]

19:30 spiral notebook

[@amriteshmishra2676]

17:45 passing strangers

[@Anointed7]

For some new poetry and literature experience read Dear Joseph,

[@AndreasZimmerman]

I *lip smack* really like *lip smack* this guys poems *lip SMACK*

[@rapier1954]

He had squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue that spread to his throat which was successfully treated but left him with a problem of excessive dryness of his mouth and throat. Just thought you might want to know before you make anymore stupid comments.

[@SoundsandTonesRecords]

Just uploaded a poetry reading of our own, a new poet finding his voice with some strong words. Check it out and let us know what you think

[@intransit3695]

Mother - 42:52

[@Psychopathis]

he is seriously dehydrated

[@amriteshmishra2676]

14:54 skater

[@amriteshmishra2676]

21:10 moth who drinks tears

[@BrianDornTFP]

From My Poems To Yours

[@OLIVER3269]

I am an English poet from India. I enjoy his fiction as well articulation. very confident poet.

[@ladydragon7777]

its like hes writeing a book not a poem

[@mamoako1521]

4:00 TS

[@amriteshmishra2676]

14:59

[@unmannedlab]

Cruel, handsome poet. It is not the book she is touching, it is you she is caressing, but you want her down in the squalor; at your feet. You revel in the paradigm of wealth and power; it is your true aphrodisiac. She is beautiful, and she should have the world, instead she must hang her head in shame and make a vile choice. She walks away; nice for youyouve gotten what you wanted. But not all beauties just walk away, some are queens denied their kingdom and they are not so easily thwarted.

[@richH1625]

4:20 12:05

[@amriteshmishra2676]

12:14

[@amriteshmishra2676]

16:06 cancer clinic

[@mowgli123456789]

im with you. i like some of it. but everything he says sounds condesending

[@workingclown]

Even after college I have trouble distinguishing poetic gold from pretentious drivel.

[@SolitaryWarrior]

Yes, he's very talented. But where's the SOUL?

[@parkermorgan7565]

Not to diss on the guy, because I write myself but....Arthur Rimbaud....and Charles Bukowski....didn't have have Laureate Certificates....and did not wear suites.....

[@warlockboyburns]

24:56 very funny

[@takmaps]

no one licks his own mouth as much as this guy

[@myname1469]

He makes that mouth noise that makes me not able to listen.

[@BruceFerrell]

you mean talking?

[@myname1469]

No. Its a licking or smacking of the lips sound. Very moist.

[@rpsu2b]

i believe that sound it is a result of his surviving mouth or throat cancer.

[@TheUltimateGC]

This is really good but Jesus, that lip smacking is difficult to listen to. Bleh

[@jldrue]

his lip smack is killing me...smackity smack yuck

[@rapier1954]

He had squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue that spread to his throat which was successfully treated but left him with a problem of excessive dryness of his mouth and throat. Just thought you might want to know before you make anymore stupid comments.

[@Wheelchair919]

boooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@NathanForst]

I just cannot concentrate. I keep listening to his lips smacking. It is too damn annoying.

[@ballsfful]

Wow, this is amazing. I will forty minutes away from him too.

[@LovingLifeandWords]

Fabulous....

[@amriteshmishra2676]

16:08

[@marybaxter8722]

I wept tears of joy and sadness.

[@sherlockholmeslives.1605]

I'm not a poet!!!