Best Mothers Podcast With Sonnet Podcasts (2024)

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Episode 77: Jennifer Grotz, The Conversion of Paul 26:14

35m ago26:14

26:14

Poetry engages in conversation. Today, we explore a long, beautiful, narrative poem weaving together the work of fellow poets while looking carefully at a Caravaggio painting, all reflecting on illness, death, and friendship. For the poem, see here: https://www.nereview.com/vol-40-no-1-2019/the-conversion-of-paul/ For Grotz's incredible book, Still…

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14. "Nostalgic, Abstract & Inspiring". Chen Du Reads 'At Home' by Chinese Deaf Poet, Zuo You 14:01

4h ago14:01

14:01

In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Chen Du about ‘At Home’ by a modern Chinese poet, Zuo You. They discuss: Nostalgia in China Deaf poets including Raymond Antrobus Homesickness Discover poetry through the heart of another… Find out more about the poems on Elixir and read them here! Receive our newsletter! The Elixir Poetry Podcast webs…

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Voice Note 2. 'Sonnet of Fidelity' by Vinicius de Moraes 1:19

6h ago1:19

1:19

'Soneto de fidelidade' 'Sonnet of Fidelity' by Brazilian poet Vinicius de Moraes. It is read by Eduardo and the musical underscore is composed by Tom Platts. Simply scroll down to listen to the whole episode (6mins52): 4. Soneto de fidelidade: "We Must Enjoy Everything While It Lasts" - Eduardo Discover poetry through the heart of another… Find out…

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13. "The Beautiful, Magical, Fantastic Power Of This Poem Will Carry You." - Emma 23:44

1d ago23:44

23:44

In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Emma about ‘Lord Ullin’s Daughter’ by Thomas Campbell (1777 – 1844) They discuss: Emma's connection to the poem through her mother Authoritarian fathers The "freshness" of Thomas Campbell's poem: the early work of young artists The power of hearing poetry read out The loss of a child Discover poetry th…

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Voice Note 1. 'The Ruin' an Anglo-Saxon poem from The Exeter Book 1:27

7d ago1:27

1:27

Extract of 'The Ruin' an Anglo-Saxon poem from The Exeter Book. It is read by Kate and the musical underscore is composed by Tom Platts. Simply scroll down to listen to the whole episode (13mins30): 1. The Ruin: "I Feel Less Lonely When I Read This Poem" - Kate Discover poetry through the heart of another… Find out more about the poems on Elixir an…

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Episode 76: Philip Levine, What Work Is 24:56

6d ago24:56

24:56

In this episode, we read and discuss Philip Levine's most famous poem, "What Work Is." We consider his deft use of the second-person perspective, the sociability and narrative energy of his poetry, and his deep concern for the insecurity that defines the lives of so working-class laborers. Click here to read "What Work Is": https://www.poetryfounda…

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12. “My Mother Taught Us Love”. Teaching Children Emotional Literacy Through Poetry (with Tom) 16:53

2h ago16:53

16:53

In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to (our second) Tom about, ‘Mother any distance’ by Simon Armitage. They discuss: Family relationships Maternal love Teaching children emotional literacy through poetry The truth of why this poem makes Tom so emotional Discover poetry through the heart of another… Find out more about the poems on Elixir a…

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11. The Brutality Of War: "This Is The Dark Truth About Human Nature!" (with Richard) 28:01

6d ago28:01

28:01

In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Richard about an extract from book 22 of the Iliad by Homer. Richard explains the tale of Achilles, and hones in on the brutality of war which the story portrays. Richard is reminded of the Iliad by the violence he sees in the modern world as a war correspondent. How does Homer's work affect us today? …

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Episode 75: Du Fu, Passing the Night by White Sands Post Station 18:16

16d ago18:16

18:16

What is a good life, and how do we make sense of the world when it seems like society is collapsing? In this episode, Lucas Bender joins us once again to discuss the work of Du Fu (712-770 C.E.), the great Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty. Luke helps us to see how Du Fu’s “Passing the Night by White Sands Post Station” can be read in multiple ways …

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10. “Zhuangzi Gave Me Strength To Deal With All My Traumas." The Poet Of Transcendence (with Vivienne Lo) 23:18

13d ago23:18

23:18

In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Vivienne Lo about 2 Daoist poems: Chapter 8 of Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching and Zhangzi's (Chuang-Tzu's) Butterfly Dream Parable. They discuss: Learning about Chinese philosophy from European hippies (as a Chinese person). Feminism in Chinese Daoist poetry and philosophy. Violence, sexism & racism: ‘growing …

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9. "I Have My Wife's Heart With Me All The Time". The Power Of True Love (with Martyn) 22:35

20d ago22:35

22:35

In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Martyn about [i carry your heart with me(i carry it in] by e.e. cummings (1894–1962). They discuss: The portability of love e.e. cummings conveys in the poem Otherness due to being an immigrant, or minority in a country - an experience Martyn shares with his wife. Being rooted in a place through one’s …

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Episode 74: Diane Seuss, [The sonnet, like poverty] 24:22

1M ago24:22

24:22

This remarkable sonnet dives into issues of poverty, poetry, and grief. We talk about the pedagogy of constraint, while exploring the achievements, including the hardbitten gratitude, embedded in this poem. Thank you to Graywolf Press for permission to read and discuss the poem. Diane Seuss's "[The sonnet, like poverty, teaches you what you can do]…

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8. Sharp Edges: "How I Learnt That My Body Is My Best Friend" - Tom 16:48

20d ago16:48

16:48

In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Tom, our producer, about one of his own poems, ‘Sharp Edges’. The poem is read twice with a musical underscore on the second reading. They discuss: - Seamus Heaney - Tom's cycling accident and lucky escape - How and why he started writing poetry after the accident - How time slows down in a moment of s…

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7. "This Poem Is The Way I See The World!" - Andreea 9:27

1M ago9:27

9:27

In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Andreea about a Romanian poem called ‘I do not crush the world’s corolla of wonders’ by Lucian Blaga. They discuss: How the poem has shaped Andreea's view of the world Romanian poet and philosopher Lucian Blaga Being comfortable with mystery, unknown, and surprise in life Overcoming anxiety Love and ki…

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6. Winter Swans: "So Many Of Us Don't Have Someone To Rely On" - Donna 9:49

2M ago9:49

9:49

In this episode of Elixir hosted by Helen Wing, Donna tells the heartbreaking story of why ‘Winter Swans’ by Owen Sheers means so much to her. They discuss: Reading vs Hearing Poetry How Poetry Should Be Taught In Schools The Importance Of “Feeling Poetry” Why ‘Winter Swans’ Is So Emotional Original musical underscore on the second reading. Discove…

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Episode 73: Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz, Sonnet 189 24:41

2M ago24:41

24:41

In this episode, Professor Stephanie Kirk guides our reading of Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz’s “Sonnet 189.” Her scholarly insights help us to appreciate the nuances of Sor Juana’s poetry and her importance in her own lifetime and beyond. Professor Kirk read Edith Grossman's translation of "Sonnet 189" from Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz: Selected Works. C…

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5. Assembly Line: "I Worked In A Chinese Missile Factory When I Was 16" - Lijia Zhang 18:56

1M ago18:56

18:56

In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Lijia Zhang about ‘Assembly Line’ by Shu Ting. Find out more about the poems on Elixir and read them here! Receive our newsletter! The Elixir Poetry Podcast website: https://www.helenwing.com/the-elixir-poetry-podcast Let us know what you think of the episodes by replying to our emails or in the commen…

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Word Made Fresh (and Exciting Updates) 12:35

2M ago12:35

12:35

We're interrupting your summer this week with a few exciting updates about Poetry For All and an excerpt from Abram Van Engen's newly released book, Word Made Fresh. If you want to join Abram for a book launch online on July 9 at 4pm Eastern, register for free by clicking this link. And if you want a free subscription to Image Journal, which is an …

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4. Soneto de fidelidade: "We Must Enjoy Everything While It Lasts" - Eduardo 6:52

2M ago6:52

6:52

In this episode of The Elixir Poetry Podcast, Helen talks to Eduardo who reads a Brazilian poem called ‘Soneto de fidelidade’ by Vinicius de Moraes. Find out more about the poems on Elixir and read them here! Receive our newsletter! The Elixir Poetry Podcast website: https://www.helenwing.com/the-elixir-poetry-podcast Let us know what you think of …

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3. The Masque of Anarchy: The Ultimate Protest Song - Bryn 9:06

3M ago9:06

9:06

In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Bryn about ‘The Masque of Anarchy’ by Percy Bysshe Shelley. Read all the poems on Elixir here! Receive our newsletter! The Elixir Poetry Podcast website: https://www.helenwing.com/the-elixir-poetry-podcast Let us know what you think of the episodes by replying to our emails or in the comments or our DM…

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2. La medida de mi madre: "How We Always Found A Way To Love Each Other" - Julia 5:54

3M ago5:54

5:54

In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Julia about a poem called ‘La medida de mi madre’ or ‘The Measure of My Mother’ by Begoña Abad. Read all the poems on Elixir here! Receive our newsletter! The Elixir Poetry Podcast website: https://www.helenwing.com/the-elixir-poetry-podcast Let us know what you think of the episodes by replying to our…

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1. The Ruin: "I Feel Less Lonely When I Read This Poem" - Kate 13:30

3M ago13:30

13:30

Helen Wing is talking to Kate from Gosport (England) about an Anglo-Saxon poem called ‘The Ruin’ from The Exeter Book. If you resonate with 'The Ruin' like Kate, or think you might take something different from it you can... Read it here! Receive our newsletter! The Elixir Poetry Podcast website: https://www.helenwing.com/the-elixir-poetry-podcast …

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INTRO 1:08

3M ago1:08

1:08

Welcome to The Elixir Poetry Podcast! We are excited to announce that Episode 1 will air on Wednesday 5th June where Helen's guest reads an Anglo-Saxon poem! Receive our newsletter for further commentary and episode updates! The Elixir Poetry Podcast website: https://www.helenwing.com/the-elixir-poetry-podcast Let us know what you think of the epis…

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Episode 72: Victoria Chang, My Mother--died unpeacefully... 20:01

3M ago20:01

20:01

In this episode, we read one of Victoria Chang’s moving poems from her collection OBIT, and discuss how the poem explores the interplay between life, death, grieving, and memory as the poet tries to process her mother’s passing. Thanks to Copper Canyon Press for granting us permission to read this poem, which was originally published in OBIT. Victo…

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Episode 71: Hopkins, As Kingfishers Catch Fire 23:55

5M ago23:55

23:55

This episode dives into the wonderful world of Gerard Manley Hopkins, the musicality of his language, and the vision he has of becoming what we already are. This poem illustrates the cover of Abram Van Engen's new book, Word Made Fresh. The book explores connections between poetry and faith, and it serves as an invitation to reading poetry of all k…

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Episode 70: Lauren Camp, Inner Planets 28:29

6M ago28:29

28:29

In this episode, Lauren Camp joins us to read and discuss "Inner Planets," a poem that she wrote during her time as the astronomer in residence at Grand Canyon National Park. She describes her poetic process and the value of solitude in a place full of wonderment. To learn more about the Grand Canyon Astronomer in Residence program, click here. To …

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Episode 69: Live with Marilyn Nelson! 55:17

7M ago55:17

55:17

Our first live performance of the podcast, featuring Marilyn Nelson and a discussion or her amazing poem "How I Discovered Poetry." On January 31, we met at Calvin University for its January Series and spoke with Marilyn Nelson about poetry and her work for a live audience. For more on Marilyn Nelson, visit her website or The Poetry Foundation. Thi…

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Announcement 2:15

7M ago2:15

2:15

We share some news about a new website at poetryforallpod.com and a live event next week! https://poetryforallpod.com/By Joanne Diaz and Abram Van Engen

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Episode 68: W.S. Merwin, To the New Year 22:48

8M ago22:48

22:48

In the first episode of 2024, we read one of the great poets of the past century, W.S. Merwin, and his address to the new year, considering his attentiveness, his style, and his wondrous mood and mode of contemplation and surprise. Picking up on the "radical hope" we discussed in Dimitrov's "Winter Solstice," we turn to Merwin's sense of what is un…

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Episode 67: Alex Dimitrov, Winter Solstice 24:27

9M ago24:27

24:27

In this episode, we read and discuss a poem that provides a powerful meditation on the longest night of the year. To learn more about Alex Dimitrov, please visit his website. Thanks to Copper Canyon Press for granting us permission to read this poem from Love and Other Poems. During our conversation, we briefly allude to "Love," Dimitrov's wonderfu…

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Episode 66: Katy Didden, The Priest Questions the Lava 26:10

10M ago26:10

26:10

In our discussion of "The Priest Questions the Lava," Katy describes the sentience of the natural world, her erasure of documentary texts, her interest in visual poetry, and the importance of poems that examine ethical and spiritual questions in an era of climate change. To see Katy's erasure, click on the Academy of American Poets Poem-a-Day featu…

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Episode 65: Du Fu, Facing Snow 23:57

11M ago23:57

23:57

In this episode, Lucas Bender guides us through his translation of Du Fu's "Facing Snow," one of the most famous poems in the Chinese language. To learn more about Du Fu's life, work, and cultural significance, please see Lucas Bender's Du Fu Transforms: Tradition and Ethics amid Societal Collapse (Harvard University Press, 2021).…

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Episode 64: Shakespeare, Sonnet 29 19:51

12M ago19:51

19:51

In episode 64, we talk about Shakespeare's sonnet 29, a poem about comparison and competition, leading the poet almost to despise himself before, by chance, he remembers his dear friend and is lifted by the deep joy of that relationship. We link our discussion to present-day concerns about social media, the Surgeon General's warning about an epidem…

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Episode 63: Rumi, Colorless, Nameless, Free 29:56

1y ago29:56

29:56

Poet and translator Haleh Liza Gafori joins us to closely read and discuss a poem by Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī (1207-1273 CE), one of the greatest of all Sufi poets. We discuss the poetic constraints of the ghazal form, Rumi's encounters with the divine, and the significance of his friendship with Shams, a man who transformed his life and poetic p…

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Episode 62: Kobayashi Issa, Haiku 17:19

1y ago17:19

17:19

What makes haiku "the perfect poetic form"? This episode reads three wonderful haiku by Kobayashi Issa and explores what makes them so moving and fun. We use the beautiful translations of award-winning poet Robert Haas in The Essential Haiku: Versions of Basho, Buson, and Issa. To see these haiku and others online, visit The Poetry Foundation here.…

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Episode 61: Ada Limón, "The Raincoat" 18:34

1+ y ago18:34

18:34

With her quality of attention and focus on vivid, specific images, Ada Limón brings us to a moment of surprising insight in "The Raincoat." "The Raincoat" appears in Ada Limón's book The Carrying by Milkweed Editions. Thank you to Milkweed Editions for permission to read the poem on this podcast. You can find the "The Raincoat" on the Poetry Founda…

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Episode 60: Li-Young Lee, From Blossoms 19:07

1+ y ago19:07

19:07

In this episode, we explore the poetry of joy in a world of shade and death, looking to sounds and repetitions while examining how "From Blossoms" speaks back to the poem that immediately precedes it in Lee's great book Rose. For more on Li-Young Lee, see The Poetry Foundation here. Thanks to BOA Editions for granting us permission to read Li-Young…

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Episode 59: Tichborne's Elegy 21:25

1+ y ago21:25

21:25

In this episode, we read the elegy of Chidiock Tichborne, written the night before his execution, and contemplate the power of repetitions, the balanced precision of a man facing his end, and the drumbeat of monosyllables that takes his imagination beyond the moment of his death. Tichborne's Elegy My feast of joy is but a dish of pain, My crop of c…

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Episode 58: Richie Hofmann, Things That Are Rare 23:57

1+ y ago23:57

23:57

In this episode, we are delighted to have Richie Hofmann as our guest. Richie Hofmann is the author of two collections: Second Empire and A Hundred Lovers. His poetry has appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Yale Review, and many other literary magazines, and he is the recipient of Ruth Lilly and Wallace Stegner fellowships. To learn more …

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Episode 57: Edna St. Vincent Millay, She had forgotten how the August night 23:46

1+ y ago23:46

23:46

She called herself Vincent, she smoked cigarettes, and she wore shimmery golden evening gowns when she read her poetry to sold-out crowds. Edna St. Vincent Millay was the emblem of the "New Woman" and one of the most important American poets of the twentieth century...but in years after her death, her literary reputation suffered, and only recently…

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Episode 56: Queen Elizabeth, On Monsieur's Departure 18:46

1+ y ago18:46

18:46

Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603) was one of the longest-reigning monarchs in all of British history, but she was also a gifted poet. In this episode, we discuss "On Monsieur's Departure," a poem that is inspired by Petrarchan conventions and gives insight into the public and private selves of a powerful queen. (For the text of the poem, scroll to the …

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Episode 55: Kay Ryan, Crib 17:17

1+ y ago17:17

17:17

In this episode, we discuss Kay Ryan's "Crib," a brief poem that begins with an interest in the deep archaeology of language and shifts to a powerful meditation on theft, innocence, and guilt. "Crib" appears in The Best of It © 2010 by Kay Ryan. Used by permissions of Grove/Atlantic, Inc. For more on Kay Ryan and her work, you can visit the Poetry …

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Grant Writing Break 2:59

2y ago2:59

2:59

This week, Joanne and Abram take a break to write a grant for the podcast. We very much hope you enjoy Poetry For All. And if you do, please leave us a review, share it with a friend, and let us know! Thank you all for listening.By Joanne Diaz and Abram Van Engen

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Episode 54: Carl Phillips, To Autumn 24:47

2y ago24:47

24:47

In this episode, we talk with David Baker about "To Autumn" by Carl Phillips, exploring the way Phillips masterfully achieves a sense of intimacy and restlessness in a lyric ode that tosses between two parts while incorporating the sonnet tradition. For more on Carl Phillips, please visit the Poetry Foundation. For more on David Baker, please visit…

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Episode 53: Carter Revard, What the Eagle Fan Says 25:38

2y ago25:38

25:38

In this episode, we focus on the life and work of Carter Revard, an Osage poet whose medieval scholarship informs the structure of "What the Eagle Fan Says." Jessica Rosenfeld, a professor of medieval literature at Washington University in St. Louis, joins us for this discussion. Carter Revard was a prolific poet and scholar. To learn more about hi…

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Episode 52: Shakespeare, Sonnet 73 19:18

2y ago19:18

19:18

This sonnet reflects on the autumn of life and an intimate love, and it turns on that love growing stronger in and through its age, even as the body decays. To learn more about Shakespeare's sonnets, visit Folger Shakespeare page. Our favorite editions of Shakespeare's sonnets are edited by Colin Burrow and Stephen Booth. Sir Patrick Stewart's read…

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Episode 51: Martín Espada, Jumping Off the Mystic Tobin Bridge 30:20

2y ago30:20

30:20

To learn more about Martín Espada, click here. To read the poem, click here. This is the first poem that appears in Floaters, the winner of the 2021 National Book Award. To purchase a copy of the book, click here. Photo credit: Lauren Marie Schmidt (cropped to fit dimensions)By Joanne Diaz and Abram Van Engen

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Episode 50: Rafael Campo, Primary Care 22:24

2y ago22:24

22:24

In this episode, we discuss how Rafael Campo, a practicing physician, uses blank verse to explore the experience of illness and suffering. Thanks to the Georges Borchardt, Inc. for granting us permission to read this poem. You can find "Primary Care" in Alternative Medicine (Duke University Press, 2013). Links: Campo reads Primary Care Campo Author…

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Episode 49: Lisel Mueller, When I am Asked 19:57

2y ago19:57

19:57

In this episode, we closely read Lisel Mueller's "When I am Asked" in order to better understand grief as a deep source of artistic expression. We look at language as a source of connection and hope, even in the midst of sorrow and solitude. With this poem about the making of poetry (an_ ars poetica_), we come to see how one artist turned to the in…

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Episode 48: Joy Harjo, An American Sunrise 21:47

2+ y ago21:47

21:47

In this episode, we examine The Golden Shovel form and discuss the idea of "survivance" through the work of Muscogee (Creek) poet Joy Harjo, the 23rd Poet Laureate of the United States. You can find the text of "An American Sunrise" here, though this is an earlier version of the poem. The final version appears in her finished book of the same title…

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