Conversations with Michael S. Harper

Conversations with Michael S. Harper brings together thirteen interviews with one of the most innovative and influential voices in contemporary American poetry. A distinguished professor at Brown University and the author of fifteen poetry collections, Michael S. Harper (1938–2016) infused his work with the rhythms of jazz and blues, creating a lyrical space where Black history, culture, and spirituality converge. Spanning nearly four decades, these interviews offer a rare and intimate glimpse into Harper’s creative process, intellectual rigor, and deep reverence for musical and literary traditions. For Harper, jazz was more than influence—it was structure, philosophy, and spirit. Whether discussing John Coltrane’s sonic power or the enduring wisdom of Sterling Brown, Harper reveals how music helped shape his poetic voice and his vision of American life. This essential collection invites readers into conversation with a poet whose words continue to resonate across disciplines. A vital resource for scholars of American literature, African American studies, and poetry, Conversations with Michael S. Harper affirms the poet’s role as both witness and celebrant—one who transformed sound into story, memory into meaning.