So This is Nebraska

Ted Kooser published “So This Is Nebraska” as part of his 1980 collection of poems, Sure Signs, which won the 1981 Society of Midland Authors Award for Poetry. As the name of the poem and the award indicate, Kooser is a midland author. He grew up in Iowa, and he continues to live in Midwest America, having settled in Nebraska. “So This Is Nebraska” reflects Kooser’s focus on the condition, personality, and images of Middle America. Like a lot of Kooser’s poetry, “So This Is Nebraska” possesses an intimate, unpretentious, accessible voice and tone. At the same time, the poem carries bits of Modernism and Surrealism, which makes it a somewhat unique addition to Kooser’s canon. Generally, he tries to keep away from the type of intricate, confounding poetry of Modernists, Surrealists, and other avant-garde movements intent on creating head-scratching poems. Nonetheless, “So This Is Nebraska” is one of Kooser’s best-known poems, and, as a former United States poet laureate and a Pulitzer Prize winner, Kooser has written many distinguished poems, including “At the Cancer Clinic” (2004), “An Ephiany” (1994), and “Selecting a Reader” (1980).

Poet Biography

Ted Kooser was born in Ames, Iowa, on April 25, 1939, and he grew up with a fondness for reading, writing, and cars.