Visualizing Poetry On Screen

Poetry tends to be read on the page, or listened to from a stage. But rarely is it watched on a television screen. For New Hampshire poet James Hofford and composer Ellen Gale, pairing poetry with video was a natural way to encourage those who might be intimidated by poetry to visualize it in a new way.

Hofford got the idea in 1988. It took two decades before he collaborated with Keene videographer Nicholas Roy to complete the project. They've released a 30-minute DVD called "Living in the Green," in which Gale plays original compositions as Hofford reads his poetry. The sounds are then matched to serene footage of babbling brooks, thick forests and beautiful New Hampshire landscapes from various seasons.

Half of the proceeds from the DVDs will go to childrens' charities in the United States and Russia, where the couple did missionary work. Click here for more info.