Take this poem

Episode 75: Dave Mehler reads Chris Dombrowski

Dave Mehler-- the local poet and friend I interviewed in episodes 12 and 45-- takes the mic today to read from Chris Dombrowski's book "Ragged Anthem". 

Dombrowski is a northwesterner, outdoorsman, and teacher as well as poet, and his slim book is one that you might need to add to your library. 

 

 

 

 

Episode 74: What Did I Miss?

I'm back after summer break for a little chat, a promise of what's to come, and of course a poem.

By the Well of Living and Seeing, Part II, Section 28: “During the Second World War"  by Charles Reznikoff

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/55500/during-the-second-world-war-

Episode 73: Teacher, Fisher, King

"Finding a Teacher" by W.S. Merwin

Episode 72: Bonus! ”The Smile”

In this mini episode, my nephew reads a poem he wrote for his baby sister. Buckle your seat belt; it's dangerously adorable!

Episode 71: Three More by Charles Wright

Apparently I'm not done reading Charles Wright poems to you! I've got a fever and the only cure is another dive into the bright, dark, poetic, folksy, scary, exhilarating pool of his book "Caribou". In this episode I share

"Chinoiserie II"

"Heaven's Eel"

"Life Lines"

Episode 70: ”History is a Burning Chariot” by Charles Wright

Today's episode is dedicated to Keith Hansen, who made an ambivalent comment about this poem that I'm crazy about. I try to explain my enthrallment with this poem and Wright's latest work in general. Was it a success or 

"a raid on the inarticulate
With shabby equipment always deteriorating" ?
(T.S. Eliot) 

Who knows? But it was worth a try. 

Episode 69: Four Poems About Family by George Bilgere

Sit yourself down at Uncle Keith's knee; he's got some poems to read to you...about fambly. 

Episode 68: In the Waiting Room

"But I felt: you are an I,
you are an Elizabeth,
you are one of them."

 

This poem is a story...in which a hot waiting room and a National Geographic magazine provoke a little girl's painful recognition of herself. 

 

"In The Waiting Room" by Elizabeth Bishop

Episode 67: Lake, Mountain, Moon

Keith Hansen brings us Denise Levertov's grouping of poems titled "Lake, Mountain, Moon." These are lush, grand, and worth listening to with closed eyes and a still body...if you can pull that off. 

Episode 66: Caterpillars & Geckos

You know what's adorable? Hearing your dear ol' college roommate's voice echo in the voices of her two young sons... and to hear those voices saying poems. Lincoln (8) shares a poem by Rosetti, and Will (10) shares a poem of his very own. He said his favorite thing about poetry is that there is a poem for everything... and ain't that the truth. 

 

Caterpillar

by Christina Rosetti 

Brown and furry
Caterpillar in a hurry,
Take your walk
To the shady leaf, or stalk,
Or what not,
Which may be the chosen spot.
No toad spy you,
Hovering bird of prey pass by you;
Spin and die,
To live again a butterfly.