5 Must-Read Michael S. Harper Poems

Michael S. Harper (1938-2016) was a renowned Brooklyn-born poet, known for weaving jazz rhythms, personal narratives, and historical insights. A professor at Brown University and Rhode Island’s first poet laureate, his work bridged racial divides in America.

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Makin’ Jump Shots

In ‘Makin’ Jump Shots’ by Michael S. Harper, the player gracefully defies gravity, his artistry on the court a dance of triumph, creating moments of beauty.

'Makin' Jump Shots' is one of the best-known Michael S. Harper poems. It embodies his themes of artistry, resilience, and celebration of African American culture. The poem's vivid imagery and precise language align with Harper's style, and its free-verse form reflects his flexibility in structure. While it focuses on a specific moment in basketball, it captures the broader essence of Harper's work, which often celebrates human triumph and excellence.

He waltzes into the lane

’cross the free-throw line,

fakes a drive, pivots,

floats from the asphalt turf

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Last Affair: Bessie’s Blues Song

‘Last Affair: Bessie’s Blues Song’ by Michael S. Harper explores Bessie Smith’s blues, portraying love’s impact with vivid imagery and poignant refrains.

This poem epitomizes Michael S. Harper's poetic brilliance, seamlessly weaving personal and cultural narratives. This poem mirrors Harper's signature style—vivid imagery, rhythmic refrains, and a profound exploration of African American experiences. It encapsulates the emotional and societal complexities prevalent in Harper's body of work, making it an exemplary representation of his impactful and resonant poetry.

Disarticulated

arm torn out,

large veins cross

her shoulder intact,

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Dear John, Dear Coltrane

‘Dear John, Dear Coltrane’ by Michael S. Harper describes musician John Coltrane’s life and alludes to the ways in which it influenced the poet’s work.

Michael S. Harper is an American poet known for his powerful and moving poetry. He wrote a poem called 'Dear John, Dear Coltrane' in 1966. The poem talks about the life and music of jazz musician John Coltrane. It shows Coltrane's struggles with addiction, his health issues, and his deep love for God through his music.

Sex fingers toes

in the marketplace

near your father's church

in Hamlet, North Carolina—

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Grandfather

‘Grandfather’ by Michael S. Harper describes the treatment Harper’s grandfather endured and alludes to racism within the United States more generally.

Michael S. Harper is the poet. He writes about his grandfather and the racism his grandfather faced. The poem talks about a time when white people tried to burn down his grandfather's house. It also shares personal memories of Harper with his grandfather.

In 1915 my grandfather’s

neighbors surrounded his house

near the dayline he ran

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Nightmare Begins Responsibility

In ‘Nightmare Begins Responsibility,’ Michael S. Harper shares the heartbreaking experience of losing his two sons at the time of birth.

I place these numbed wrists to the pane

watching white uniforms whisk over

him in the tube-kept

prison

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5 Must-Read Michael S. Harper Poems

Makin’ Jump Shots

Last Affair: Bessie’s Blues Song

Dear John, Dear Coltrane

Grandfather

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