A TRIBUTE: Celebrating Irene McKinney

Irene McKinney, poet, editor, and teacher, published seven collections of poetry, six during her lifetime including Vivid Companion and Six O’Clock Mine Report, and the most recent, published posthumously, Have You Had Enough Darkness Yet? The recipient of numerous awards, she served as WV’s Poet Laureate from 1994 until her death early last year. During the final years of her life she founded and directed the Low-Residency MFA Program at West Virginia Wesleyan College, where she was Professor Emerita. Her life and works were celebrated this weekend at an event in Charleston.

Speakers for the program include Maggie Anderson, Jessie van Eerden, and Marc Harshman. West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s John Nakashima provided a montage of radio and video clips from some of Irene’s most memorable interviews and readings. Music was provided by Kate Long and Doug Van Gundy.

The audio postcard ends with a recording of the late Irene McKinney reading her title poem from her final book of poetry that was published this year, “Have You Had Enough Darkness Yet?”