Bill Holmes - Teachers Make a Difference - Lamont Steptoe

The speaker reflects on their poetry teacher, Steptoe, and the profound impact he had on their craft. They recount learning haikus, which enhanced their creativity, and express gratitude for Steptoe's lessons. A significant moment was receiving a heartfelt compliment from Steptoe, a Vietnam veteran, which underscored the speaker's influence as a poet.

Who were some of the literary figures Steptoe was associated with?

• James Baldwin and Sonia Sanchez

• Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson

• Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes

• Toni Morrison and Alice Walker

In what year did the narrator take poetry lessons with Steptoe?

• 2000

• 1995

• 2005

• 1999

What did the narrator compare writing haikus to?

• A painter mixing colors

• A pianist practicing scales

• A chef preparing a meal

• A dancer learning steps

What was the significant compliment Steptoe gave the narrator?

• Their haikus were the best he had ever read

• Their poetry was as good as James Baldwin's

• Their work gave him a reason to appreciate surviving Vietnam

• Their book was a bestseller

What was the title of the narrator's poetry collection mentioned?

• Straight from My Heart

• Poems of the Heart

• Verses of Life

• Words from the Soul