Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
At 30 years old, poet Ted Rosenthal was diagnosed with acute leukemia and told he had six months to live, with a 5% chance of remission. The poetry he wrote next processed the fear, isolation, and an unexpected sense of freedom that came with having nothing left to lose.
In this 1972 film, How Could I Not Be Among You: The Poetry of Ted Rosenthal, directed by Thomas Reichman, Rosenthal discusses how he faces death and reads poems that he wrote after his terminal diagnosis. A book of his poetry and photographs by the same name was published a year later. He died in 1972 at age 34.
Subscribe to a THIRTEEN newsletter to stay informed: thirteen.org/email-preferences/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=youtube&utm_campaign=tp_bhm&utm_id=2026_tp_bhm
This April, for National Poetry Month, THIRTEEN celebrates voices in verses, stories of artistry and expression, and special selections from the THIRTEEN vault.
#NationalPoetryMonth #TedRosenthal #Poetry #Leukemia #HowCouldINotBeAmongYou #Archives #THIRTEEN #THIRTEENWNET
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THIRTEEN is one of America’s most respected and innovative public media providers. Part of The WNET Group, THIRTEEN is a unique cultural and educational institution that harnesses the power of television and electronic media to inform, enlighten, entertain and inspire. The flagship public television station of the New York City tri-state area and the most-watched public television channel in the nation, THIRTEEN reaches millions of people with programming that celebrates arts and culture, offers insightful commentary on the news of the day, explores the worlds of science and nature, and invites people of all ages to have fun while learning.
At 30 years old, poet Ted Rosenthal was diagnosed with acute leukemia and told he had six months to live, with a 5% chance of remission. The poetry he wrote next processed the fear, isolation, and an unexpected sense of freedom that came with having nothing left to lose.
In this 1972 film, How Could I Not Be Among You: The Poetry of Ted Rosenthal, directed by Thomas Reichman, Rosenthal discusses how he faces death and reads poems that he wrote after his terminal diagnosis. A book of his poetry and photographs by the same name was published a year later. He died in 1972 at age 34.
Subscribe to a THIRTEEN newsletter to stay informed: thirteen.org/email-preferences/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=youtube&utm_campaign=tp_bhm&utm_id=2026_tp_bhm
This April, for National Poetry Month, THIRTEEN celebrates voices in verses, stories of artistry and expression, and special selections from the THIRTEEN vault.
#NationalPoetryMonth #TedRosenthal #Poetry #Leukemia #HowCouldINotBeAmongYou #Archives #THIRTEEN #THIRTEENWNET
Please SUBSCRIBE if you enjoyed: youtube.com/@ThirteenWNET?sub_confirmation=1
For full episodes, check out thirteen.org
Facebook: facebook.com/thirteenwnet
Instagram: instagram.com/thirteenwnet
TikTok: tiktok.com/@thirteenwnet
-----------------
THIRTEEN is one of America’s most respected and innovative public media providers. Part of The WNET Group, THIRTEEN is a unique cultural and educational institution that harnesses the power of television and electronic media to inform, enlighten, entertain and inspire. The flagship public television station of the New York City tri-state area and the most-watched public television channel in the nation, THIRTEEN reaches millions of people with programming that celebrates arts and culture, offers insightful commentary on the news of the day, explores the worlds of science and nature, and invites people of all ages to have fun while learning.
