Bill Meissner

Meissner grew up in the passenger seat of his father’s Chevy Nova, while the elder Meissner traveled the Midwest as a salesman during the 1950s. In his newest book of poems, American Compass, Meissner casts his knowing yet never cynical eye back on those times and the iconic images–Elvis Presley, James Dean–that helped shape American culture. The poet is also the author of a notable collection of baseball essays, Hitting Into the Wind; his new book includes more musings on our erstwhile national pastime (which now must be either NASCAR or eating, or both). 1011 Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-215-2575; www.loft.org