That time when Ted Kooser taught my husband to appreciate poetry
Plus two book recommendations and a cute opossum
It was 2018. I don’t remember the specific date. Ted Kooser had a newly released book of poems, and he was going to do a reading and signing in Seward, Nebraska. My daughter and I wanted to go, but I didn’t want to drive all that way (a little over an hour) myself. So I mentioned it to my husband.
He scoffed. He certainly didn’t want to drive all that way just to go listen to some guy reading a bunch of poems. But he agreed to be our chauffeur for the evening. “I’ll probably sit outside, though,” he said.
I rolled my eyes, but I didn’t press him. I figured I could bully charm him into sitting with us once we were there.
I’m not sure if it was because of my charms or because he would have felt rather conspicuous hanging out in the lobby, but my husband sat with us. And he enjoyed every moment of that reading.
As Ted Kooser talked about his life and inspiration, and read selected poems from his book, it was like something clicked in my husband’s brain. He listened. He got teary-eyed. He laughed!
It’s not that Ted Kooser’s poetry is especially funny. But many of his poems have a kind of subtle punch line, which are particularly pronounced when read by the poet himself. And his poems are accessible. They are about finding beauty and wonder in even the most ordinary moments. One doesn’t have to understand the complexities of poetry to appreciate Ted Kooser’s poems, though there is plenty of depth for those who want to dig deeper.
Now, years later, I will sometimes read aloud from one of Ted Kooser’s books before bed. And on our anniversary this year, my husband and I decided to purchase a new (to us) book of poems…just for fun!
I’m thinking of all of this because of the newly released book Ted Kooser: More than a Local Wonder by Carla Ketner, illustrated by Paula Wallace. It is a wonderful book that captures Ted Kooser’s story with simplicity and beauty, the text as much as the accompanying illustrations. If you’re not familiar with Ted Kooser or his poems, this lovely picture book would be a great place to start.
Also look for House Held Up by Trees, one of Ted Kooser’s poems in the form of a picture book, illustrated by Jon Klassen.
My daughter
, who writes , was with us on that life-changing night of poetry, and she wrote a poem about it. I hope you will check it out and that her words will inspire you to discover—or rediscover—the wonder that is Ted Kooser.Sketch of the week: an illustration for one of Ted Kooser’s poems
