Poet Laureate Ted Kooser highlights a poem each week in his American Life in Poetry series. Kooser often chooses poems from lesser known poets who focus on simple everyday topics. From time to time we'll post the reprinted columns here and give you a chance to share your thoughts. This week's selection by Don Welch delicately describes a life's work that might easily be overlooked.

American Life in Poetry: Column 056

BY TED KOOSER, U.S. POET LAUREATE

Each week Poet Laureate Ted Kooser offers a selected poem along with a few words that celebrate poetry's impact on everyday life events. From time to time we like to share the reprinted columns here, and provide you a chance to add your comments. The latest pick in the American Life in Poetry series examines the sometimes overlooked story of what you don't see.

American Life in Poetry: Column 055

BY TED KOOSER, U.S. POET LAUREATE

This Saturday is Ted Kooser Day in Ames, Iowa ... but every day is Ted Kooser day as far as I'm concerned. With that in mind, here's the latest from his series of columns that celebrates and highlights poetry's importance in everyday life. From time to time we like to share the reprinted columns here, and provide you a chance to add your comments.

U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser is writing a series of columns that highlights poetry and its importance in everyday life. From time to time we'll share the reprinted columns here, and provide you a chance to add your comments. The latest offering from Colorado poet Bob King examines the geology of love.

U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser is writing a series of columns that highlights poetry and its importance in everyday life. From time to time we'll share the reprinted columns here, and provide you a chance to add your comments. This simple piece by Nancy McCleery seemed like a nice offering to leave as I begin my own holiday vacation. Feel free to share your December notes here as well as your thoughts on this selection.)


American Life in Poetry: Column 039

BY TED KOOSER, U.S. POET LAUREATE

(U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser is writing a series of columns that highlights poetry and its importance in everyday life. From time to time we'll share the reprinted columns here, and provide you a chance to add your comments. This short, crisp piece uses a spare amount of words and carefully chosen double meanings to quickly and solidly get the point across -- just as the subject of the poem might have done.

(U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser is writing a series of columns that highlights poetry and its importance in everyday life. From time to time we'll share the reprinted columns here, and provide you a chance to add your comments. I'm a bit behind in posting this, as it was actually last week's selection, however I thought it was appropriate in light of our coverage of Hunter S. Thompson's recent sendoff.

U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser has committed to a series of columns that highlight poetry and its importance in everyday life. From time to time we'll share the reprinted columns here, and provide you a chance to add your comments. This week's selection echoes the famous literary moment of Proust and his madeleines, but also reminds us that everyday objects and discoveries can hold a wealth of memory and emotion.

American Life in Poetry: Column 019
BY TED KOOSER, U.S. POET LAUREATE

U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser has committed to a new series of columns that highlight poetry and its importance in everyday life. From time to time we'll share the reprinted columns here, and provide you a chance to add your comments. This week's offering takes a new look at the often cliched and tired metaphors used to invent poems about love.

American Life in Poetry: Column 016
BY TED KOOSER, U.S. POET LAUREATE

As we reported a few months ago, U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser has committed to a new series of columns that highlight poetry and its importance in everyday life. From time to time we'll share the reprinted columns here, and provide you a chance to add your comments. This week's column offers a quiet example of how family connections and ancestry often provide powerful subject matter.

American Life in Poetry: Column 012
BY TED KOOSER, U.S. POET LAUREATE