Take this poem

Episode 19: "Memorial" by A.E. Stallings

This episode is another field trip to a cemetery, this time in the good company of classicist-poet A.E. Stallings and her beautiful poem "Memorial (Mnemosyne)".

Episode 18: A Child's Garden of Verses

Two of my college roommates sent me audio files recently, and they both happened to be poems by Robert Lewis Stevenson. It seemed like a good time for an episode featuring his winsome, easily memorizable poetry that so captures the childhood experience. 

I read "Bed in Summer"

Lydia and Will share "My Shadow"

Melanie shares "The Swing" 

Episode 17: Why Poetry?

In this episode I share "The Pupil" by native Kentucky poet Maurice Manning. This poem tells the story of an interior Appalachian scene and does artistic work that I believe is unique to poetry. I draw upon Matthew Zapruder's book Why Poetry? to aid my attempts to explain it. 

Episode 16: O world, I cannot hold thee close enough!

When the air smells like cut grass it's time for some spring poetry! This week I share the sonnet "God's World" by Edna St. Vincent Millay. 

Episode 15: What Does a Six Year Old Love?

Eleanor finally entered the Closet Of Poetry with me and shared a few of her favorites.  All the poems she says in this episode are from memory, which helps explain the adorable botched limerick she busts out with at the end. Get the kids gathered 'round for this one!

Episode 14: "These Days" by Sharon Olds

What do you want?

It can be difficult to articulate an answer to that question, and even more difficult to find the courage to tell the truth about it to someone else. But Sharon Olds has the guts of ten regular people and the brilliant words to back them up. Enjoy the ride!

Episode 13: Two Love Poems from the Middle

Name a more iconic duo than love and poetry.

Love poems most frequently focus on the fiery beginnings and weighty endings of relationships. 

Today I bring you two of the rarer kind: poems from the middle of love. 

"Here" by Grace Paley

"Touch Me" by Stanley Kunitz

 

Episode 12: The Gift of Hopkins

In this episode I talk with Dave Mehler--a local poet, friend, and poetry mentor-- about how the course of his life was changed by the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins. We discuss Hopkins at length and read aloud several of his wild, brilliant, numinous poems.

Dave also shares his advice for how to find your way to the poems that will speak to you.

We went really long, I accidentally sang, and there's more traffic-pet-and-child noise in the background than usual.

Enjoy! 

Episode 11: A Teacher's Gift

Story time!

In this episode I read screenwriter Stewart Stern's reflection on a poem given to him as a gift. "The Pasture" by Robert Frost has stayed with Stern for decades, both as a beautiful poem and as a memorial of the teacher who introduced it to him. 

 

 

The anthology I read from is The Poem I Turn To: Actors Present Poetry That Inspires Them edited by Jason Shinder.

Episode 10: Mailbag Poetry Reading

TTP hosts its first mini poetry reading, as three listeners each share a beloved poem. Grab a seat in the front row and enjoy!

 

Tom Clark reads "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas

Melinda Westervelt reads "Happiness" by Raymond Carver

Keith Hansen reads "A Birthday Card To My Mother" by Philip Appleman

 

(If you don't need my pep talk about facing the fear of your own recorded voice skip to 5:00 where the poetry begins.)