His poetry was influenced by jazz and history .
Michael Steven Harper ( March 18 , 1938 -- May 7 , 2016 ) was an American poet and English professor at Brown University , who was the Poet Laureate of Rhode Island from 1988 to 1993 .
Michael Steven Harper 's poetry was influenced by jazz and history .
Michael Steven Harper ( March 18 , 1938 -- May 7 , 2016 ) was an American poet and English professor at Brown University , who was the Poet Laureate of Rhode Island from 1988 to 1993 .