Secrets of the City

Muble Herder stumbles across a Swedish dialect poem about railroad magnate James J. Hill: got little faller har / Name ban Yem / Das whole railroad over dar / Blong to him.

Maybe it’s time to use this inspiration to write a few poems to more recent notable Minnesotans. I’ll start: Nobody walks / said Denny Hecker / maybe he shoulda waited / until the checks cleared.

St. Paul-born poet Carol Muske-Dukes’ poem “Twin Cities” is featured in this week’s New Yorker. (Via)

MinnPost point us to “Cabinet of Wonders” at the 7th Street entry, hosted by singer-songwriter John Wesley Harding and comedian Eugene Mirman ; local guests will include “ex-Husker Du drummer/songwriter Grant Hart, ex-Zuzu’s Petals frontwoman Laurie Lindeen (also author of “Petal Pusher,” spouse of Paul Westerberg, and poster woman for thriving despite multiple sclerosis), acerbic and whimsical author/journalist Dennis Cass and poet Todd Boss.” Sounds like a great show.

Minnesota author Bill Holm has died at age 65. More from MPR. A nice story on him from the Strib from last summer.

While we’re on the subject of hip hop, Dessa from Doomtree has released a book of powetry and prose. How is it? Profound and moving, according to the Strib. Dominantly dazzling, according to City Pages. She’ll be reading this weekend at the Guthrie’s Dowling Studio. The event will be hosted by Steve Marsh.

Minnesota has a varied and noble tradition of spoken word, including the MN Spoken Word Association, numerous CDs of spoken word artists, and now a blog titled Minnesota Microphone, specifically devoted to spoken word artists and performances. (Via) What spoken word do you recommend?