Roethke Now
Although Roethke seems to have received very little attention in recent literary scholarship and in other poetry gatherings, the Friends of Theodore Roethke foundation is hard at work in preserving his house and promoting his poetic legacy. One of their goals is to bring his childhood house and the neighboring house of Uncle Karl to their former glory. The foundation organizes various educational and cultural programs to promote this cultural heritage of central Michigan. Hopefully, Roethke will not be lost to the future generations of poets, creative writers, scholars, and Michigan communities.
As a result,
1805 Gratiot Ave, Saginaw is now a site of historic and cultural significance. The marker sits in front of the house and museum. Please visit: http://friendsofroethke.org/
A Forever Federal postage stamp was released in 2012 to honor the poet's legacy.
Written by Jeff Vande Zande, American Poet (2012) is a novel set in Saginaw. The young protagonist is a budding poet who discovers the Roethke house and his own poetic voice.