On the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 23, the Midwest Poets Series, sponsored by the Missouri Arts Council and Center for Arts and Letters and hosted by Rockhurst University, welcomed renowned poets Maryfrances Wagner and Wayne Miller to begin its 43rd year.
Wagner, a Kansas City native and former Missouri Poet Laureate, read from her newest collection, “Backstories”.
Wagner’s poems—many drawn from her years as a high school English teacher—focus on the lives of students whose experiences with violence, poverty and identity often remain untold.
“Every student has a story, even if they never tell it out loud,” Wagner said.
Wagner crafts poems with clear imagery and plainspoken language, aiming to “make sure the people I write about are seen with compassion and honesty.” Wagner has also authored “The Immigrant’s New Camera and Solving for X.”
Miller, who lived in Kansas City for more than a decade and now teaches at the University of Colorado Denver, read from his sixth collection, “The End of Childhood.”
Miller’s work reflects on parenthood and childhood while weaving in global conflict and personal memory.
“I’m always interested in those moments when personal memory collides with historical memory,” Miller said.
Miller’s craft blends intimate detail with larger questions, often layering narrative with reflection. He has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and Poetry Foundation and co-directs the “Unsung Masters” book series. Miller is also the editor of the literary journal “Copper Nickel.”
Jameelah Lang, Ph.D., an assistant professor of English at Rockhurst University and director of the Midwest Poets Series, opened the event by welcoming the audience and reflecting on the series’ mission to bring nationally recognized poets to Kansas City.
The evening closed with a sense of inspiration as both poets left the audience with images and lines to remember. Wagner’s work reminded listeners of the power in everyday moments, while Miller’s poems emphasized silence, memory and what lingers between words.
Together, their readings showed how poetry can hold both clarity and mystery, offering students new ways to look at their own lives.
The Midwest Poets Series will continue its season with National Book Award winner Ladan Osman in November, Pulitzer Prize winner Jericho Brown in February and Layli Long Soldier in the spring.
