TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE

Sunday      09 Nov 2008  
            
PROMO               "Poetry Instead"
*Plato argued that poets would be banished from the ideal republic. He
said poets are only good for promoting petty emotions, such as anger and
lust and love. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, poetry.
We'll talk with four-time Slam Poet champion Patricia Smith about how
powerful words are when spoken out loud. And, a man many regard as the
greatest writer in the English language, Australian poet Les Murray.


PROGRAM RUNDOWN: "Poetry Instead" ***Language Advisory*** See Segment 1
and Segment 3 below.

0:00 - 1:00 Billboard (1:00)

1:00 - 6:00 SILENCE (5:00)

6:00 - 23:37        SEGMENT 1: (17:38)
            Patricia Smith is an African American who's the four-time
            champion of the National Poetry Slam.  Her book "Blood
            Dazzler" was nominated for the 2008 National Book Award. 
            She talks about her work with Steve Paulson and performs
            several poems.  

***Language Advisory***

Stations should note that Smith uses provocative language and imagery
and often writes poetry from the point of view of another persona.  In
this piece, her use of profanity has been bleeped, but there are still
instances of sensitive language, particularly racial slurs. Here's a
list of the offensive words used in the poem "Skinhead" which occurs
from 00:00 to 00:00 in the program: "nigger" (twice), "Spic," "faggot,"
(twice) and??                 The full text of "Skinhead" can be found
at the bottom of this message. 
                    
            Segment One Outcue:  "...PRI - Public Radio
            International."

23:38 - 24:07  LOCAL OPTION with music bed (:29)

24:08 - 43:22       SEGMENT 2: (19:15)
            Jay Parini teaches poetry at Middlebury College, and is
            the author of "Why Poetry Matters."  He talks with Jim
            Fleming about Jim Fleming about the power of poetry and
            how it especially empowers young people in troubled
            times.  Also, Gioia Timpanelli uses her poetic
            sensibility to write prose novels.  She talks with Anne
            Strainchamps about the two kinds of writing, and her
            story "What Makes a Child Lucky."  And we hear selections
            from the story.  
                    
            Segment Two Outcue:  "...PRI - Public Radio
            International."

43:23 - 43:52       LOCAL OPTION with music bed (:29)

43:53 - 59:00       SEGMENT 3: (15:06)
            Australian Les Murray is considered by many literary
            critics to be the greatest living poet in English today. 
            He rarely gives interviews, but spoke with Steve Paulson
            and read several of his poems.   His latest book of
            poetry is called "The Bi-Plane Houses.

***Language Advisory***
In his poem, "", Murray says "...bastard."
                    
            Segment Three Outcue: PRI Audio Logo


For a copy of this hour, call 1-800-747-7444, and ask for program number
11-9-A.

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