Dear John, Dear Coltrane

poetry by Harper

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July 21, 2026

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Michael S. Harper's poetry collection, Dear John, Dear Coltrane (1970), is a significant work that explores themes of ancestral kinship, jazz and blues music, and the racial divisions in America. The poems in this collection are compact and focus on redemption, drawing inspiration from historical figures and events, as well as Harper's personal experiences and relationships.1

John Coltrane, the jazz musician honored in the title, was an iconic American saxophonist and composer known for his innovative improvisational style and his profound influence on jazz music. Harper's poetry often engages with the rhythms and spirit of jazz, a genre that deeply influenced his work and that of many other poets.2314

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Michael S. Harper
Harper’s first book, Dear John, Dear Coltrane (1970), addresses the theme of redemption in compact poems that are based both on historical events and figures and on his travels and personal relationships. The poetry in History Is Your Own Heartbeat (1971) and Song: I Want a Witness (1972)…
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Harper’s first book, Dear John, Dear Coltrane (1970), addresses the theme of redemption in compact poems that are based both on historical events and figures and on his travels and personal relationships. The poetry in History Is Your Own Heartbeat (1971) and Song: I Want a Witness (1972)…
Read More