Poetry in America
“Poetry in America” gathers distinguished interpreters from all walks of life to explore and debate unforgettable American poems.
LATEST Poetry in America
Hill Country
May 2
God drives down from the mountains behind the wheel of a Jeep, in this poem by Tracy K. Smith, former U.S. poet laureate.
Poetry in America
“Poetry in America” gathers distinguished interpreters from all walks of life to explore and debate unforgettable American poems.
Athletes, poets, politicians, musicians, architects, scientists, actors, entrepreneurs, and citizens of all ages join together with host and Harvard professor Elisa New to experience and share the power of poetry.
Visually dazzling and archivally rich, each episode of the series is enhanced by digital educational materials that “Poetry in America” produces for universities, institutions, organizations, and individuals to continue the conversation in the classroom, the living room, and beyond.
Elisa New
Elisa New is the Director and Host of "Poetry in America," director of the Center for Public Humanities at Arizona State University, and director of Verse Video Education.
New created "Poetry in America," a PBS series, to bring poetry into living rooms and onto screens of all kinds. The show can be seen on public television and streaming platforms, in schools and libraries, and on airlines.
Guests include Joe Biden, Herbie Hancock, Gloria Estefan, Shaquille O’Neal, Elena Kagan, Nas, John McCain, Sonia Sanchez, Tony Kushner, Bill Clinton, Julia Alvarez, Bono, Cynthia Nixon, John Kerry, LisaGay Hamilton, Caroline Kennedy, Katie Couric, Al Gore, and David Strathairn.
Along with the series, New produces educational materials on American poetry for all ages, from middle- and high-school students, to K-12 teachers, to lifelong learners, distributed by Harvard University, Amplify Education, and Arizona State University.