This episode dives into the story of Harriet Monroe, a poet, and her connection to the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, also known as the Chicago World's Fair. We'll explore Monroe's poem, "The Columbian Ode," written for the event. While the poem itself isn't widely read today, the story behind it is fascinating. We'll discuss the drama surrounding its publication and how it became a turning point for Monroe's career, ultimately leading her to found Poetry magazine, a publication that would have a lasting impact on American literature.