Recorded in 1988, when Richard Wilbur was the U.S. Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress, this hour-long, two-part show focuses on Wilbur's translations of lyric poetry. In part one, host Henry Taylor talks with Wilbur about his translations from French, and about the art of poetry translation from a language not as well known. Wilbur reads his versions of "Rondeau" by Charles d'Orleans, "The Horses," by Jorge Guillen, "L'Invitation au voyage," by Charles Baudelaire, "The Pelican," by Phillipe de Thaun, and "Ballade of the Ladies of Time Past," by François Villon. He also reads "Phone Booth," by Andrei Voznesensky and "Song," by Vincinus de Moraes.
In Part Two, Taylor and Wilbur discuss his work with the plays and poetry of Racine and Molière. Wilbur reads portions of Molière's "The Misanthrope," "Tartuffe," and "The Learned Ladies." As well, he reads from Racine's great verse tragedy, "Phaedra."