Take this poem

How does she do it? Linda Bierds' best poems about historical figures--inventors, scientists, artists--hold an uncanny sense of discovery and inspiration so strong that I find myself holding my breath while reading. Today's poem takes us back in time to the studio of the brilliant Italian sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini. "Stroke" by Linda Bierds from her book First Hand

A good poet applying his pen and imagination to the inner life of historical figures...this is the human version of catnip for me. In his book A Companion for Owls, Kentucky poet Maurice Manning writes about the frontier life of Daniel and Rebecca Boone. The two poems in this episode are "Born Again" and "A Wife's Tale."   Back in episode 17 I shared and discussed "The Pupil" by Maurice Manning

Yes, one of these poems has already been featured on this podcast... but it's absolutely worth hearing again. And this time I got to yak about it a bunch. And read it again. And read a love poem. Enjoy!    "What Work Is" by Philip Levine Keith Hansen reads it wonderfully in Episode 63 https://takethispoem.podbean.com/e/episode-63-work-and-what-it-is/ "What I Didn't Know Before" by Ada Limon 

I had breath to spare and used it for poetry. And oh man, these are two good ones.  "Winter Night" by Tomas Transtromer  "Gnosis" by Eireann Lorsung

These poems, like elk, have some muscle and mystery to them. The trio is brought to us by Dave Mehler: "Elk in the Field" by Michael McGriff "Bull Elk in October River" by Chris Dombrowski "Pat Describes an Elk Bugling" by Dave Mehler   Dave's poem that he reads was published (along with two others he wrote) in  The Red Wheelbarrow Anthology #15  https://redwheelbarrowpoets.org/2022/10/09/the-red-...

These two poems by George Bilgere made me snicker. Doesn't eel jerky sound kinda good? I'd try it.    "Facetime in Covidtime" "Mystery of Jerky" 

I was delighted to receive this recording from a college classmate of yore who has since gone on to become the kind of math professor who starts his classes with passages of TS Eliot.   Tom Clark reads and reflects on Scott Cairn's poem "Possible Answers to Prayer". 

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.         

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-

"Finding a Teacher" by W.S. Merwin

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

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"

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.

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

"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

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. 

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...

I hope my Welsh listeners won't give me too much trouble over the fact that St. David's Day is long past... better late, eh? This is a rich episode from Keith Hansen! He brings us "Miracle On St. David's Day" by Gillian Clarke, which beautifully reflects on the power of memorized poetry. Keith also shares Malcome Guite's remarks on the poem, and throws in Wordsworth's  dreamy "Daffodils" as a bonu...

Humans and horses: a mythic combination. These two poems dig around in that a little bit, helping me ponder what people are really talking about when they talk about horses.  "Of Unsent Letters, One" by Jill Ossier, from her collection The Solace is Not the Lullaby "A Blessing" by James Wright 

You know by now that poets can turn their eyes and pens to the ordinary as well as the sublime... but how many poems have you read about WORK? Keith Hansen brings us three of those today. I'm a little jealous that Keith beat me to sharing "What Work Is" by Philip Levine. That one's a mysterious gem.    Clemens Starck "Slab on Grade" Philip Levine "What Work Is" Marge Piercy "To Be Of Use"   

I can't believe I didn't share this poem with you last year. Sorry about that! But here it is, before winter officially ends.  The link to the audio poetry collection I mention: https://www.powells.com/book/-9780738934433/ And here is a recording of Robert Hayden reading his own poem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmJYs6PQKVc

Do the inscrutable troubles of the future add to your pleasure now? These two poems were on my mind as I revived from the stupor of illness.  "True Love" by Sharon Olds "Otherwise" by Jane Kenyon 

Keith Hansen is saving Take This Poem's proverbial bacon lately! I haven't been well enough to drag myself to the mic these last few weeks... and yet thanks to Keith here we are with a Valentine's Day treat. He shares three poems about three different chapters of love.  "How It Will End" by Denise Duhamel "After the Argument" by Stephen Dunn "The Wild Rose" by Wendell Berry  If this episode leaves...

Keith Hansen leads us through a closer reading of two rich poems. "The Caged Skylark" by Gerard Manley Hopkins "The Caged Goldfinch" by Thomas Hardy 

I met Elizabeth Hance last June in the North Carolina mountains where we both attended a retreat focused on writings of Wendell Berry. She joins me in this episode to share her enthusiasm specifically for his poetry: how it saved her sanity at a crucial time, how it aids her quest for beauty, how it cuts in its gentle but unflinching way.    Here is Elizabeth's blog http://www.findingeloquence.com...