The following post is part of our From the Catbird Seat series, “Literary Treasures.” The monthly series champions the Library’s literary programming by highlighting audio and video recordings drawn from the Library’s extensive online collections, including the recently released Archive of Recorded Poetry and Literature. The series, by showcasing the works and thoughts of some of the greatest poets and writers from the past 75 years, helps further the Library’s mission to “further the progress of knowledge and creativity for the benefit of the American people.”
Now that National Poetry Month has passed us, and our Center’s literary season has begun to calm down, it’s only fitting that May’s featured webcast is of Poet Laureate W.S. Merwin closing the 2011 Literary Season. Click below to watch W.S. Merwin deliver his final lecture as 17th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry. And speaking of closing lectures, did you make it to last month’s, during which 21st Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera‘s lecture “Pioneers of Flower and Song” gathered the founding voices of Chicano literature? He even showcased two young poets, 11-year-old Sarita Sol Gonzalez and 12-year-old Elena Izcalli Medina, leaving not a dry eye in the house. If you were unable to make it, no worries–you’ll be able to re-live its magic once the webcast is made available on the Library’s webcast site. In the meantime, please enjoy the below!