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Written by Jeff Vande Zande, American Poet (2012) is a novel set in Saginaw, Michigan, Theodore Roethke's hometown. The protagonist is a young man and poet who discovers the Roethke house, his own family, his poetic voice.

The poet's baby photo.

This back porch on the second floor of his house is where the magic happened! This is where Roethke wrote some of his poems looking at his family greenhouses.

Another celebrated poem

And this what made the magic! One of his father's greenhouses. His father Otto and uncle Karl, who lived next door, owned the greenhouses and owned a floral company. Ted and June grew up in such beautiful surroundings.

1805 Gratiot Ave, Saginaw is now a site of historic and cultural significance. A foundation named Friends of Theodore Roethke is set up to preserve and promote the legacy of this great American poet. Please visit: http://friendsofroethke.org/ . …

Roethke was very close to his younger sister, June.

The manuscript of My Papa's Waltz with the poet's meaningful edits, which help reveal his creative process.

A photograph of Ted's parents, Otto and Helen Roethke.