Words That Burn - Poetry Podcast

Donation Link:  Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign:   http://www.ipsc.ie/support/donate In this week's episode of Words That Burn , I take a look at the powerful poem ' Fuck Your Lecture On Craft, My People Are Dying ' by Palestinian American poet Noor Hindi. The poem found a surge of interest during the lockdowns of 2020 and became phenomenally popular on social media, with thousands...

This week on Words That Burn, I am joined by poet Camille Ralphs, whose debut collection After You Were, I Am mesmerises with its vibrant exploration of historical and mythological narratives often overlooked. In this enlightening interview, Ralphs shares the inspiration behind her compelling work, featured in esteemed publications like the New York Review of Books and the Times Literary Supplemen...

Welcome to this special Seachtain Na Gaeilge edition of Words That Burn , where we dive deep into the heart of Irish poetry. In this episode, we explore " Doineann " by Caitlín Nic Íomhair, a poignant piece that mirrors the seasonal changes with the personal and linguistic rebirths of its narrator. Translated by the celebrated Colette Bryce for the anthology Calling Cards , this poem is not just a...

Enter the poetic world of Leonard Cohen with this special episode of Words That Burn, dedicated to the transformative power of love and mysticism in Cohen's work. In this episode, we unravel the layers of "Owning Everything," a poem that captures the essence of Cohen's early poetic ventures through its intricate blend of romantic mysticism, spirituality, and the profound connections between the di...

On this episode, I explore the world of Edna St. Vincent Millay, one of America's first celebrity poets. I unravel the layers of " Siege ," a poem that showcases Millay's brilliant manipulation of traditional forms to express themes of desire, and the inexorable presence of death. Discover how Millay, a luminary of the 1920s, defied societal norms with her bold exploration of sexuality, politics,...

Donation Link:  Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign:   http://www.ipsc.ie/support/donate On this episode of Words That Burn, I take a look at the poignant work of Palestinian poet Najwan Darwish and his devastating poem "Nothing More to Lose." This poem was written over ten years ago, but its message seems more important and contemporary today than ever before. His words explore the he...

In this episode, we explore Susannah Dickey’s Outtake #3 , a thought-provoking piece from her debut collection, Isdal. This poem critically examines the true crime genre, questioning the ethics of deriving entertainment from real-life tragedies. Dickey’s work is inspired by the mysterious case of the Isdal Woman, weaving a narrative that challenges our fascination with true crime. Through a fictio...

In this episode of "Words That Burn," I delve into the enthralling microcosm of James Tate's poem "Dear Reader." Our journey through "Dear Reader's" 13 lines reveals the intricate layers and emotional depth that Tate, a beloved poet of the surreal, weaves into his direct dialogue with the reader. His poem is sometimes playful in tone, other times pure tongue in cheek, but always draws the reader d...

Donation Link:  Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign:   http://www.ipsc.ie/support/donate *correction: In the episode I mistakenly say the Ireland Solidary Palestine Campaign or ISPC, it is in fact the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign or IPSC apologies for this. In this episode, we explore "The Deluge and the Tree" by the renowned Palestinian poet Fadwa Tuqan (1917-2003), a voice o...

Join us in this riveting episode of Words That Burn, where we delve into the poetic and mental health journey of Daragh Fleming, an acclaimed poet and mental health advocate from Cork, Ireland. Daragh, the voice behind the award-winning Thoughts Too Big blog and author of the poignant collection "Lonely Boy," shares his insights into how poetry serves as a bridge to mental wellness and personal ex...

Words That Burn Halloween Special 2023 Step into the shadowy world of poetry with the Words That Burn Halloween Special. This episode meticulously unravels the spine-tingling works of three legendary poets: Emily Dickinson, Linda Pastan, and Lord Alfred Tennyson. Emily Dickinson's "One Need Not Be a Chamber" : Venture into the eerie corridors of the human mind, where Dickinson masterfully illustra...

In this special episode, I got a chance to chat with Irish Poet Jessica Traynor about her sequence of witch poems from her 2018 collection The Quick. Jessica Traynor is an accomplished Dublin-based poet whose work reflects her deep roots in Irish history, culture, and contemporary society. Her poetry is known for its intricate layering of personal and collective narratives, often delving into topi...

In this episode, we reflect upon the profound impact of Seamus Heaney, celebrating the tenth anniversary of the poet’s passing by examining his poignant piece, "The Haw Lantern." We explore: The rich, multifaceted landscapes in Heaney's poetry, capturing the essence of Ireland with raw, genuine portrayals. Heaney’s unique ability to intertwine dense, academic poetic language with relatable narrati...

What does it mean to truly grieve and can we ever move on from it?. In this episode, I explore OBIT [Ambition] by Victoria Chang, a poignant reflection on how we grieve not just physical deaths but abstract losses as well. Delve deep into the background of Chang’s 2020 collection, "OBITS", and understand the inspiration and intention behind her poetic obituaries. Join me in decoding this evocative...

Delve into the poetic world of Mahmoud Darwish on this week's episode of Words That Burn. Uncover the heart-wrenching narrative of "Earth Presses Against Us" from his 1986 anthology, "Fewer Roses." . Often considered to be Palestine's most important poet, Darwish's poetic expanse narrates the profound pain and oppression of immigrants, particularly from the Palestinian perspective. Born in the Pal...

This week's episode is deep dive into the unflinching poetry of Irish poet, Molly Twomey. It looks at the complex layers of Twomey's poignant masterpiece, "Knives We Used on Our Skin". This compelling exploration of the turbulence of youth, nestled in the serenity of the Irish countryside, presents a raw and intimate portrayal of the trials of adolescence. In this analysis, we'll traverse the emot...

Dive into the realm of self-compassion and forgiveness in this episode of 'Words That Burn'. We delve deep into the transformative words of Nobel laureate Derek Walcott, particularly focusing on his acclaimed poem 'Love After Love'. Walcott's poetry shines a light on the intricate dynamics of self, identity, and culture within the larger context of Western literature. His powerful verses have not...

When we are forced to leave a life behind, what price do we truly pay. This question is the one at the heart of Warsan Shire's poem Midnight In the Foreign Food Aisle. Join me as I delve into this incredible portrayal of her uncle. Warsan Shire can only be described as a poetry superstar, who has captured the attention of audiences worldwide. From becoming London's first young poet laureate to col...

How can we make peace with an ending? Can we make peace with them at all. In this episode of Words That Burn, we'll be taking a closer look at the poetry of the late Charles Simic. The episode will focus on his poem Car Graveyard, a wonderful showcase of all the talents he possessed as a poet. The poem looks at a pivotal moment in the youth of the poet, whilst simultaneously deconstructing the oft...

I have a chat with Irish poet Luke Morgan about his latest collection Beast and all the themes of shape shifting and transformation that are in it. We talk about the ways we carve out identities and the various metaphors and coping mechanisms we develop to navigate that. Luke Morgan's poetry collection "Beast" was published in 2022 by Arlen House. His debut, "Honest Walls" was published in 2016 wh...

Change is hard, it’s a well worn statement. It can be difficult for us personally to go through, it can be difficult for others to accept. Despite all that the hardest aspect of it may be when change fails to come and we are trapped in the same relentless situations.  This poem, Cotton Candy On A Rainy Day, tackles change in its many frustrating forms. It comes at a point of tremendous change...

What does it feel like when we burn for those we love? Do we burn more in their presence or in their absence? More importantly what is the line between love and worship? All these questions are tackled in Clifton Gachagua's A Bronze God, or a Letter On Demand. In it a speaker spills a monologue of devotion to their love, both their physical presence and the memory of them. Gachagua's imagery moves...

It can be easy to relegate Halloween to the realm of a kitsch festival every year but to do so would be a mistake. Here in Ireland Halloween or Oíche Shamhna, was an important festival for both recognising the dead and the beginning of the darker half of the year. There was a recognition that acceptance of that darkness was important. In this week's special Halloween episode I'm going to discuss t...

Where does practice turn to obsession? Is anger when pursuing perfection inevitable? These are two of the questions explored in Anne Carson's Hokusai. In the poem Carson takes a look at the later life of one of Japan's greatest artists: Hokusai. She creates poem of magical realism, one that allows the old painters daily ritual of painting lions to spring to life from the page. Using the poem Carso...

How do we deal with trauma and regret? If we're honest, it's usually not well. This seems especially true for men. Difficult emotions around remorse, guilt and vulnerability are rarely expressed. In her poem Shadowboxer , Anne Carson looks at the toll that might take on the male psyche. Using the biblical parable of Longinus and infusing it with a contemporary edge, Carson explores the way in whic...