The United States has a history of producing great poets. For National Poetry Month, Periscope has put together a group of poetry "all-stars" to introduce you to a few of America's most well-known poets.

 

Emily Dickinson | Poetry All-Stars

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Emily Dickinson | Poetry All-Stars
Episode 8
Emily Dickinson 1830 - 1886 Emily Dickinson rarely left her home in Massachusetts, and her connection to the outside world was usually through letter writing. But Dickinson's creativity seemed to...
Pat Mora | Poetry All-Stars

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Pat Mora | Poetry All-Stars
Episode 7
Pat Mora (1942 - ) Pat Mora is a writer of numerous children's books of poetry and prose. Mora is a native of El Paso, Texas and her work often features local interests, such as her family, the...
Edgar Allan Poe | Poetry All-Stars

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Edgar Allan Poe | Poetry All-Stars
Episode 6
Edgar Allan Poe 1809 - 1849 In 1826, Edgar Allan Poe entered the University of Virginia. He was a successful student, but had a problem with gambling, for which he was forced to leave. After a short...
Rita Dove | Poetry All-Stars

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Rita Dove | Poetry All-Stars
Episode 5
Rita Dove 1952 - In 1987, Rita Dove was one of the youngest poets to win a Pulitzer Prize for poetry. Dove also became the youngest poet laureate of the United States in 1993. Currently, Dove is a...
Robert Frost | Poetry All-Stars

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Robert Frost | Poetry All-Stars
Episode 4
Robert Frost 1874-1963 After a failed attempt at farming in New Hampshire, Frost moved with his wife to England in 1912. There, he was influenced by the great English poets of the day. His friend Ezra...
Maya Angelou | Poetry All-Stars

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Maya Angelou | Poetry All-Stars
Episode 3
Maya Angelou (April 4, 1928 - May 28, 2014) Dr. Maya Angelou's busy career has included work as a poet, historian, songwriter, playwright, dancer, film producer, director, actress, singer, and civil...
Walt Whitman | Poetry All-Stars

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Walt Whitman | Poetry All-Stars
Episode 2
Walt Whitman 1819 - 1892 Walt Whitman, "The Great Grey Poet," was born in 1819 on Long Island in New York. At an early age, Whitman began reading the work of Shakespeare and Homer. His love of words...
Langston Hughes | Poetry All-Stars

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Langston Hughes | Poetry All-Stars
Episode 1
Langston Hughes 1902-1967 Langston's father once discouraged him from writing poetry. He believed discrimination would keep the young Langston from finding success as a poet. But Langston continued to...