Words That Burn - Poetry Podcast

In this episode of Words That Burn , the poetry podcast dedicated to literary analysis and poetic interpretation, I sit down with Belfast poet Matthew Rice to discuss his new collection Plastic: a book-length poem mapped across a single night shift in an invented plastics factory. It's published by Fitzcarraldo Editions. Born from his PhD at the Seamus Heaney Centre, Queen's University Belfast, Pl...

Welcome back to Words That Burn , the poetry podcast where host Benjamin Collopy takes a closer look at the verse that shapes our world. Whether you're here to deepen your poetry appreciation or are simply looking for accessible poetry for beginners, the goal is to make poetry education engaging for everyone. In this episode, Ben sits down for an in-depth poem discussion with Mark Ward, an incredi...

Welcome back to Words That Burn , the podcast taking a closer look at poetry. In this episode, host Benjamin Collopy offers a close reading of Mary Ruefle’s four-line masterpiece, “Deconstruction.” This brief but devastating poem masterfully bridges ancient myth with the unbearable weight of modern existence. Benjamin situates Ruefle as a master storyteller and meticulous "sentence maker," breakin...

In this episode of Words That Burn , I sit down with poet Shannon Kuta Kelly to explore the beautifully haunting landscapes of her debut poetry collection, The Tree is Missing (coming this April from Faber and Faber). Shannon’s work has been featured in the New England Review , Poetry Ireland Review , and The Irish Times . As a PhD graduate from the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's University Belfa...

Celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge with a closer look at "Oidhreacht" (Heredity), a powerful piece by Irish poet and Gaeilgeoir, Louis De Paor. In this episode of Words That Burn , we explore the complex psychogeography of Ireland and the tension between holding onto the past and embracing the future of the Irish language. Discover how De Paor captures generational trauma and linguistic lineage throug...

Does the constant barrage of global news make you want to turn off the screens and bury your head? You aren’t alone. In a world that feels like a "round puddle of sunless water," how do we keep going? In this episode of Words That Burn , I analyse Audre Lorde’s powerful poem, "Coping." Written by the self-described "Black lesbian mother warrior poet," this piece from The Black Unicorn collection o...

In the final episode of Words That Burn for 2025, we turn our attention to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, and the American poet who captured its delicate balance of darkness and light: W.S. Merwin. This episode's poem "The Solstice," a work of minimalist verse that explores the intersection of nature, personal vulnerability, and the cyclical nature of time. This episode traces...

In this episode of Words That Burn , I'm joined by Irish poet Clíodhna Bhreatnach to discuss her debut pamphlet, Pink Roses and Green . Together, we chat about a collection that sits at the intersection of the "nine-to-five grind," Millennial burnout, and a deep, tactile longing for the natural world. Clíodhna breaks down her unique approach to the "Millennial Lyric"; moving away from the pastoral...

For Halloween 2025, Words That Burn resurrects one of the most chilling poems in English literature: "This Living Hand" by John Keats. This short, macabre poem wasn't published until 77 years after Keats's death, making it feel like a genuine message from beyond the grave. In this special episode, we explore the poem's dark, gothic imagery and the terrifying "strange bargain" it offers the reader....

Ever woken up to rain and felt the urge to stay in bed all day? On this episode of Words That Burn "Rain" by Raymond Carver. This is a poem that seems ideally suited to September, exploring that universal feeling of surrendering to the weather and the comfort of your own bed. Over the course of the episode I'll explore how Carver, a titan of the American short story, applies his signature "dirty r...

This week on Words That Burn, we delve into the powerful and moving poem "The Language Ban" from Annemarie Ní Churreáin's acclaimed 2021 collection, The Poison Glen . Join me as we explore the hidden history of Irish Sign Language (ISL) and the devastating impact of its suppression. Discover the story of St. Joseph's School for Deaf Boys in Cabra, Dublin, and how the controversial 1880 Milan Confe...

Donation Link:  Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign:   http://www.ipsc.ie/support/donate In this episode of Words That Burn , I take a closer look at "Door on the Road," by Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha. The poem opens with the aftermath of an explosion in a refugee camp, where a fallen door becomes a grave marker for a young man whose only remaining connection to his past is a worn...

In this episode of Words That Burn , I take a closer look at Ophelia’s Head Is Finished by the brilliant poet Olga Dermott-Bond—a haunting and layered ekphrastic response to John Everett Millais’ iconic painting Ophelia . Inspired by a chilling epigraph from one of Millais’ 1852 letters, the poem invites us to reconsider what lies beneath the surface of this romanticised artwork, and to centre the...

In this episode of Words That Burn , poet Maurice Riordan joins Ben to reflect on a career-spanning selection of poems curated by former student and fellow poet Jack Underwood. With the new Selected Poems from Faber and Faber arranged out of chronology, Riordan discusses how themes like rural life, modernity, nature, and time emerge more clearly—and more hauntingly—across decades of work. Together...

Spring Song by Reg Saner: an eternal cycle we're all lucky to have In this episode of 'Words That Burn,' Reg Saner's poem 'Spring Song.' is the central focus With spring setting in, the episode explores the poetic beauty and profound themes in Saner's work, such as points of intersection and transition, cyclical nature, and the ineffable qualities of the natural world. It also uncovers some fascin...

Exploring Louise Glück's 'Snowdrops': A Tale of Resilience and Renewal It's a new year and with it comes the common pressure cooker that is January. You will be awash in a sea of resolutions and you might be feeling the need to ''hit the ground running'' so to speak. In short; I think it's awful. So for the start of 2025, this episode focusing Snowdrops by Louise Glück, a Nobel Prize-winning poet...

An In-Depth Analysis of 'November' by Maggie Dietz | Words That Burn Podcast Join me, your host Ben, in this episode of 'Words That Burn' as I take a closer look at Maggie Dietz's poignant poem 'November.' Together, we'll explore the evocative imagery, the interplay of surface and underlying themes, and Dietz's ability to gild the everyday moments of a bleak month. I'll zone in on how the poem enc...

Donation Link:  Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign:   http://www.ipsc.ie/support/donate The Symbolism and Legacy of Refaat Alareer's Work In this episode, we explore 'If I Must Die' by Palestinian poet Refat Al Arir, whose work powerfully voices the struggles and resilience of Palestinians. We delve into Refaat Alareer's , his tragic death in an Israeli airstrike, and the prophetic na...

In this episode of Words That Burn, I look at 'Blossom' by Scottish poet Kathleen Jamie. The episode explores Jamie's profound engagement with nature and the existential themes woven throughout her poem. Known for her realistic, non-romanticised depictions of the natural world, Jamie’s work prompts reflection on humanity's place in nature. The discussion touches on her careful observation and medi...

Exploring Poetry with Jamie McKendrick: Memory, Mortality, and Art In this episode of 'Words That Burn', host Ben interviews Jamie McKendrick, one of Britain's leading poets and a foremost translator of Italian poetry. They walk through McKendrick's newest collection, ' Drypoint ,' discussing themes of memory, mortality, art, and the intricate processes behind poetry writing. McKendrick shares ins...

Donation Link:  Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign:   http://www.ipsc.ie/support/donate This episode takes a closer look at Khaled Juma's poignant poem, 'O Rascal Children of Gaza.' . Written in response to the violence during Operation Protective Edge in 2014, the poem heartbreakingly laments the loss of Gaza's children. The episode highlights the poem's structure, the use of juxtapo...

In this week's episode, we take a closer look at "There Are Mornings" by Liesl Mueller. A poem filled with undertones of threatened endings, but one that holds a burning ember of hope at its core that resonates deeply with readers Liesl Mueller, an American-German poet born in 1924, brings a rich mythological context to her work. "There Are Mornings" intertwines mythological and biblical imagery w...

Last week I had an interview with the acclaimed poet Sam Riviere on his new collection Conflicted Copy . As AI technology continues to evolve, many artists feel apprehensive about its impact on their craft. However, Sam has chosen a different path by embracing AI as a unique writing companion, culminating in his innovative poetry collection, Conflicted Copy . Join us as Sam shares his journey of c...

In this episode, we delve into "The God of Stories," a poignant poem by Rowan Ricardo Phillips from his latest collection, Silver (2024). This piece captures the essence of creation myths and the search for meaning, offering a fresh perspective on how we, as humans, assign significance to gods and everyday achievements alike. I take a look at the layers of Phillips' verse, exploring themes of perc...

On this episode of Words That Burn, I feature the poetry of Milena Williamson, a celebrated poet and author of the haunting collection Into the Night That Flies So Fast published by Daedalus Press. In this episode, Milena shares her journey from Pennsylvania to Belfast, her academic and creative endeavours at Queen's University Belfast, and the deeply personal project that turned into her latest b...