The Poetry Space_

Jane Hirshfield returns to continue our assay of assays, and to talk about poetry's smallest forms—her pebbles and haiku .  Jane's poetry provides proof that a few words can hold whole worlds, and that brevity itself may be one of the deepest forms of generosity. At the table: Jane Hirshfield Katie Dozier Timothy Green Dick Westheimer Brian O'Sullivan

Poet, Zen practitioner, and word-miner Jane Hirshfield joins us to talk about her signature form—the  assay.  We hear the fascinating story of how she created assays, and why curiosity might just be poetry’s truest form. At the table: Jane Hirshfield Katie Dozier Timothy Green Dick Westheimer Brian O'Sullivan

Continuing on in our series of checking out current lit mags, we were excited to look at these two with a lot in common. Both  The Mississippi Review  and  The Florida Review  were founded in 1972 and affiliated with universities. Will one of these two journals reign supreme in our battle of cold-read poems? At the Table: Katie Dozier Timothy Green

What makes a poetry event truly work? From open-mic chaos to moments of real poetic hospitality, we're joined by Rick Lupert to explore the art of hosting. We trade stories, share practical tips, and share a few poems to explore how a good host creates space for both laughter and vulnerability. At the Table: Katie Dozier Timothy Green Rick Lupert Dick Westheimer 

In the second half of our series with Gregory Orr, the conversation turns to grief, tenderness, and the healing power of the lyric. We talk about Emily Dickinson’s role and the role of the lyric in contemporary poetry. If part one asks what the lyric is, part two asks what it’s  for —and how it helps us endure what can’t be said any other way. At the Table: Gregory Orr Katie Dozier Timothy Green D...

What does it mean to write the kind of poem that saves your life? In the first half of our two-part conversation on lyric poetry, we're joined by Gregory Orr to explore that urge to capture private emotion in a single, shining moment. We read and unpack Orr’s poems and look to the past to tracing how feeling becomes a form in itself. Join us as we ask what lyric poetry can do in a noisy world—and...

Katie and Tim crack open their college-era poems—complete with awkward workshop moments, zany titles, and even Tim’s hilarious old pseudonym. From Katie's days at Florida State University with tutelage from Barbara Hamby and David Kirby, to Tim stumbling into an "Intro to Poetry" course with James Longenbach, this episode is fueled by memories. We rip apart our regretful diction, and...

Katie, Tim and the Squad continue exploring persona poems with Suji Kwock Kim’s "Monologue for an Onion," Ai’s "The Kid." They also share their own work—Dick Westheimer’s "Eve Corrects the Record" and Eve’s "First Bite," Brian O’Sullivan’s "No! In Thunder," Joe Barca’s "Abraham Lincoln Talks to His Therapist," Timothy Green’s "Sirhan...

In this episode of The Poetry Space_, we explore the power of persona poems. We dive into Robert Browning’s "My Last Duchess," William Blake’s "The Chimney Sweeper," Nikky Finney’s "Red Velvet," Margaret Atwood’s "Pig Song," and James Tate’s "The Motorcyclists." What happens when poets speak through masks, giving voice to dukes, children, pigs, and...

In the second half of our visit with Billy Collins, the door stays wide open. We talk dogs, humor, memory, and the surprising turns that make his poems feel like they’ve been waiting for us all along. If the first episode was the invitation, this one’s the living room conversation you never want to leave. At the Table: Katie Dozier Timothy Green Billy Collins Dick Westhiemer Joe Barca Nate Jacob B...

Billy Collins joins Katie and Tim for a conversation that we hope feels like one of his poems: open-armed, slyly funny, and disarming in the best way. We dive into the idea of  poetic hospitality —how a poem welcomes its reader in—and explore how Billy pulls off that rare trick of being both approachable and profound. At the Table: Katie Dozier Timothy Green Billy Collins Dick Westhiemer Joe Barca...

The first episode that falls under the new “current state of lit mags” banner, Katie, Tim and the Squad examine the New Yorker which has been in print for 100 years. Will the institution’s high profile equate to a consistently high caliber of poems? Listen in as we discuss recent poems to appear in the New Yorker by Maya C. Popa, Jericho Brown, Ocean Vuong, and Bob Hicok. At the Table: Katie Dozie...

After a summer break, Katie and Tim return to the ring—the poetry ring, that is—to pit two literary heavyweights against each other: the venerable  Poetry Magazine  and the nimble  32 Poems . Who’s got the more electrifying lines, the sharper editorial eye? In this episode, Katie and Tim swap hot takes, and maybe even disagree (politely…mostly). In the end, one will take home the championship belt...

What happens when you pit a hoops-loving narrative philosopher against a tight-lipped Zen wit with a side hustle in metaphysical mischief? You get this episode of The Poetry Space_, where Pulitzer Prize winners Stephen Dunn and Kay Ryan go poem-to-poem in a lyrical Duel that’s part therapy session and part riddle wrapped in enjambment. Dunn brings conversational wisdom and emotional nuance to the...

Is the influence of the Imagists alive in contemporary poetry? In this episode, Katie, Tim and the Squad take a look at how their own poems may have been influenced by the poets of the previous episode. What is the true importance of imagery in poetry, and how can contemporary poets harness the power of writing over a hundred years after the Imagists? At the Table: Katie Dozier Timothy Green Joe B...

A bit over a hundred years ago, Ezra Pound corralled a group known as the Imagists that would have a profound effect on poetry as we know it. A controversial figure, Pound explored and enlivened the economy of language and rich images that became founding principles of the group, along with H.D. (Hilda Doolittle), Richard Aldington, William Carlos Williams, Amy Lowell, and F.S. Flint. At the Table...

What constitutes fair use when it comes to poetry? Is the Cento form illegal? While this is obviously not legal advice, as no one should seek that from any podcast, let alone one primarily related to poetry, exploring fair use turned out to be as fun as reading a good poem! We covered many questions from listeners that were posed to us over social media.  Note: While we initially set out to cover...

In one of our most-requested topics, Tim fields many questions. While this is obviously not legal advice, as no one should seek that from any podcast, let alone one primarily related to poetry, we had a lot of “fun” exploring this topic. Just ask Sheryl Crow (who has no idea this podcast exists)! We covered many questions from listeners that were posed to us over social media.  Note: While we init...

Delving deeper into the matter of spirituality in poetry, we begin this episode by hearing Dick Westheimer read his poem, “Perhaps Prayer is Thinly Scattered Matter,” and are treated to more poetry by special guest Deacon Chris Anderson, as well as poems by Ada Limón, Rhina Espaillat, and José A. Alcántara. At the table: Katie Dozier Timothy Green Chris Anderson Dick Westheimer Joe Barca Nate Jaco...

As we cross over to our first triple digit episode, what better topic than spirituality? Special guest Deacon Chris Anderson helps us explore the spirituality of poetry. Is poetry a form of prayer or even a religion in it of itself? Chris shares some of his own poetry, and profound insights.  At the table: Katie Dozier Timothy Green Chris Anderson Dick Westheimer Joe Barca Nate Jacob  Brian O’Sull...

In the second episode of this mini-series, Katie and Tim jump into contemporary political poetry. With a deep dive into Rattle’s Poets Respond series, they examine what makes political poetry successful or unsuccessful in our current poetic climate, and Tim makes such a good point that Katie alters her definition of how she defines poetry. At the table: Katie Dozier Tim Green

In this episode, Katie and Tim talk about the number one thing you’re not supposed to talk about: politics—thankfully this time in the form of political poetry. What makes some political poems memorable and important? We explore the question by looking at older political poetry and what has staying power looking back. At the table: Katie Dozier Tim Green

This week, we dive into the delightful world of limericks with special guest Janet McConnaughey. Join us as we explore the history, structure, and enduring charm of this whimsical poetic form. From classic examples to contemporary twists, we read and discuss so many limericks. Whether you're a seasoned poet or new to the craft, this episode offers insights and inspiration to appreciate and per...

What makes for a fair fight between centuries? In this episode, English titans Emily Dickinson and Margaret Atwood duke it out, poem by poem, as we arrive at a better understanding of each poet through their juxtaposition. At the table: Katie Dozier Timothy Green

The Squad leaps back into the keys to writing an interesting poem with Nate Jacob reading a poem by Robert Hayden. Next up to the plate, Brian shares his list. Tim brings up the question of subjectivity, and Katie shares her own top ten keys. We also read poems by A.E. Stallings and Dorianne Laux. At the Table: Katie Dozier Timothy Green Brian O’Sullivan Dick Westheimer Nate Jacob