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A Poet Reflects On The Strangeness of America

Jon Thompson's new book of poetry focuses on the strangeness of America.
Shearsman Books
Jon Thompson's new book of poetry focuses on the strangeness of America.
Jon Thompson's new book of poetry focuses on the strangeness of America.
Credit Shearsman Books
/
Shearsman Books
Jon Thompson's new book of poetry focuses on the strangeness of America.

When poet Jon Thompson considers the American landscape and culture, he often finds himself scratching his head, thinking, “This is a strange place we live in.” Thompson has been reflecting on America’s unique scenery, people and passions, and this inspired him to write a collection of poems called “Strange Country” (Shearsman Books/2016).

Host Frank Stasio speaks with English professor and poet Jon Thompson about his new collection of poems called “Strange Country".

Thompson is an English professor at North Carolina State University. He is also the founding editor of “Free Verse: A Journal of Contemporary Poetry and Poetics,” and the editor of “Free Verse Editions.” Host Frank Stasio talks with Thompson about his career as a poet and writer.

Copyright 2017 North Carolina Public Radio

Jennifer Brookland is a temporary producer for The State of Things.
Longtime NPR correspondent Frank Stasio was named permanent host of The State of Things in June 2006. A native of Buffalo, Frank has been in radio since the age of 19. He began his public radio career at WOI in Ames, Iowa, where he was a magazine show anchor and the station's News Director.