Nebraska: This Place, These People

by William Kloefkorn, Anthony Kuhlmann

Genres: Poetry

127 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2010

About the author

William "Bill" Kloefkorn was a Nebraska poet and educator based in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was the author of twelve collections of poetry, two short story collections, a collection of children's Christmas stories, and four memoirs. Additionally Kloefkorn is professor emeritus of English at Nebraska Wesleyan University.

Kloefkorn, who was born in Attica, Kansas, obtained Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas, and did additional graduate work at the University of Kansas and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Prior to teaching at Nebraska Wesleyan, Kloefkorn taught at Wichita State University and at Ellinwood High School in Ellinwood, Kansas.

In 1982, Kloefkorn was appointed State Poet of Nebraska, a position roughly equivalent to Poet Laureate. (In 1921, the Nebraska Legislature permanently bestowed the title of Poet Laureate of Nebraska to John Neihardt, who is still recognized as holding this title.) Kloefkorn died in Lincoln, Nebraska.

In addition to his literary honors, Kloefkorn boasted that he won first place in the 1978 Nebraska Hog-Calling Championship.

An elementary school in Lincoln is named after Kloefkorn

Reviews

[Julie Rowse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some poetry I really click with, some I don't. This collection of poetry was a mixed bag for me--some of the poems I really really liked, especially after spending time this summer exploring parts of Nebraska I'd never seen before. Some of the poems were just not my thing. Worth checking out, though, for those one or two poems that will just resonate with your soul.

[John Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection featuring strong turns of phrase and a clear love of place.

[Teagan E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some moments of very real Nebraska in Kloefkorn's lines, but many sections difficult for me to connect to or hear from in my here & now.

[Tanja · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked most of the poems in this collection, especially: Schwinn, The Witching Hour and Crazy Horse: Final Reflection.