The poet WENDY KLEIN believes profoundly in the curative powers of dancing, dogs, and reading poetry out loud, and hopes someone will humanely destroy her if she ceases to enjoy these pleasures! Fortunately no destruction was necessaary as Wendy engaged us deeply with her life story, reading three of her poems - a real treat.

Wendy describes herself as ‘The Crone Poet’ and writes highly personal poetry which develops into universal themes. She comes from a family background where if you didn’t write, you were the odd one out.

Born in the USA, Wendy studied drama and English at the University of Utah and San Francisco State University before leaving the USA in 1964. She was later to renounce her American citizenship. In England she qualified as a social worker in 1983, then as a family and couples psychotherapist in 1992. Her only novel, Listening for Nightingales, was published in 2002, after which time she has concentrated on poetry, with many of her poems winning awards and prizes.

A ‘very difficult project’ which Wendy talks about in the podcast is her video Let Battle Commence about her Confederate Great Grandfather’s role in the American Civil War. Wendy also mentions how being ‘a kind of hippy’ in her younger days saw her travelling around Europe and leading a highly independent life. He poem Three Dog Night which she reads in the podcast is a reflection on this time.

To hear powerful poetry and thoughts about aging, self-criticism, assisted dying and why dogs are generally better than humans, this podcast is a must-listen.

Wendy Klein's Poetry Website: https://www.cronepoet.com/

Let Battle commence video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2JlbpAdUcU

Music: Acoustic Motivation by Yuri Semchyshyn via Pixabay with thanks

If you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!