This episode is a rehearsal.  

The title of the speech is "Are You Wearing Your Hearing Aids Now?"

This speech must not be shorter than 4.30 minutes, nor longer than 7.30 minutes.

You hear Paul (the poet) O'Mahony at home preparing for a grand night at Blarney Toastmasters Club.

Rilke, Rainer Maria Rilke, was a Bohemian-Austrian poet, letter-writer & composer of one novel.  He is one of the greatest poets in the German language - much translated into English.

Paul (poet) O'Mahony introduces & reads the first five letters to a young poet.  The letters were published after Rilke died.

These are some of the themes you'll hear in this episode.

You can find the text of an English translation here: 

Enjoy

In this episode you hear the sound of a man (Paul O'Mahony) walking in a muddy field, the chilling wind, a coffee house & a cafe.  On top of that there's the historic sound of the "Echo" by the man selling the Cork Evening Echo outside the Post Office on Oliver Plunkett Street.

First of a series of interviews with some of the most engaging people whom Paul O'Mahony, poet, knows.

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Ray Renati is a professional actor, theatre director, podcaster, photographer, comedian, singer, father, dog-walker and more.  He lives in California, USA.

Paul & Ray met on social audio on the App Anchor, about three years ago.

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The purpose of THE INTERVIEW is to 

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THE INTERVIEW covers 8 topics:

From 2012 to 2019 this adventure with Mary Oliver (Ohio 1935- Florida 2019) 

Begins with how Paul O'Mahony contacted Mary's agent in 2018, followed by a recording from 2012, her poem "The Journey" for AJ Leon and Misfits Inc as they set out to go Round the World in 1,080 Days". http://aj-leon.com/pursuitofeverything/about/about-poe/

A segment inside the great coffee house "FilterCork" with Mary.

Paul reads several poems.

You hear Mary Oliver reading one of her poem.

Followed by Paul O'Mahony's poem  "Song for Mary Oliver on her 80th birthday" in Florida 

More poetry including "When death comes".

"My life with Mary Oliver" by Paul

Paul O'Mahony produces three poems in one day.

Poem No 1 :  "Emerging From Retirement"

Poem No 2 : "My New Shoes"

Poem No 3 : "Song of Wandering Fog"

You can read these poems on Paul's website  https://paulhomahony.com/ 

It's raining outside.  There's shelter among the pines. A dog to walk.  

Paul O'Mahony's musical life in Limerick (1965 - 1968) Ireland included very little Irish music. Here Paul plays music he didn't like from Brendan Bowyer ("The Hucklebuck" - released in 1965) & Dickie Rock.  Alongside music he loved - the Doors ("Light My Fire" - released in January 1967).

While recording this episode Paul remembers how much he used to like the music of Percy French (1854 - 1920) from County Roscommon.