Take this poem

Episode 109: Death, Be Not Proud

Take This Poem wakes up from a nap long enough to share "Holy Sonnet X" by John Donne. When despair and triumph live side by side in 14 lines, heat ensues, as well as iridescence. 

Episode 108: "Brother" by Keith Hansen

This one is not just read but also written by Keith Hansen...a reflection on a fraternal tussle that has now come to an end. 

Episode 107: The Ballad of Orange and Grape

I hope you'll listen to Muriel Rukeyser read her own poem! It's weird, funny, scary, true. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN-NaxSRN4E

 

 

Episode 106: Bearing Witness, Making Confession

In this episode I read three poems from The Art of Losing, an anthology edited by Kevin Young. 

"The Wake" by Rita Dove

"The Shout" by Simon Armitage

"Remember Me" by Hal Sirowitz

Episode 105: Michael Chitwood "Search and Rescue"

Keith Hansen brings us five poems from Michael Chitwood, whose work explores the Appalachian landscape of his youth. 

"Want"

"Catalytic Converter"

"Chicken" 

"Lakeside"

"Search and Rescue"  

Episode 104: "You are not alone", the poem said, in the dark tunnel.

I wrestled with this poem for a long time. I thought I would run out of winter before I was satisfied with a recording. 

But then it snowed here these last couple days, and it encouraged me to fix up the most recent attempt and just get it out to you.

Here you go: "October" by Louise Gluck. 

 

..................................................................................................

I heard Gluck read this poem at the end of this interview:

https://yalepodcasts.blubrry.net/2021/03/09/nobel-laureate-louise-gluck-on-teaching-and-poetry/

It's the last ten minutes. However, the whole thing is excellent! This poet won almost every literary prize imaginable, including the Nobel Prize. Along with that, she taught poetry for many decades, and she considered her teaching to have fueled and inspired her work rather than draining it. She was greatly loved by students, and known for her passion, candor, and crankiness. She HATES poetry read aloud! Oopsies. 

Episode 103: The Risk of Birth

Happy New Year! I'm re-gifting this poem. 

Thank you for bringing it to my attention, Anna! 

"The Risk of Birth, Christmas 1973" by Madeline L'Engle 

Episode 102: ”I stare and stare. It seems I was called for this...”

Keith Hansen brings us poems by two Polish poets who lived upfront with human suffering and political upheaval. What will their poetic "stare" find to praise?

 

Adam Zagajewski's "Try to Praise the Mutilated World" and "Boogie-Woogie"

Czeslaw Milosz's "The Blacksmith Shop" 

 

Episode 101: The Second Half of a Chocolate Cake

I haven't finished part one to my satisfaction, but I'll serve you part two anyway. Rather like having dessert first, which I hear is possible if you're feeling unruly. 

"In Memoriam A. H. H. OBIIT MDCCCXXXIII:54" 

"In Memoriam A. H. H. OBIIT MDCCCXXXIII:55"

by Alfred, Lord Tennyson 

Episode 100!!!

100 Episodes! We've been through a lot together. 

To celebrate, I compiled some audio mail I've received into another poetry reading episode. If you enjoy it, send me a poem why dontcha! 

Pamela reads "Crooked" by G.K. Chesterton

Carrie reads "She Walks in Beauty" by Lord Byron

Melinda reads "Doors opening, closing on us" by Marge Piercy 

 

Thank you to all who have listened and contributed to this poetry endeavor!