Louis Joel Poetry Pod

The Scottish Play

In our final episode for 2025, and a double episode into the bargain, we discuss the work of probably the most highly acknowledged poet in the Western tradition – William Shakespeare. Shakespeare wrote 37 plays, predominantly in iambic pentameter, as well many sonnets and other verse. His effect on literature, and culture in general is huge.

We have elected to focus on his verse in one play, Macbeth, often regarded as ‘unlucky’ by performers but a source of great poetic riches, both concise in language and expansive in themes. We hope you will enjoy this episode, which is much longer than most of our pods but seems a necessary indulgence when dealing with ‘the bard.’

Verse discussed in this episode:

Macbeth | Act 1, Scene 1

Macbeth | Act 1, Scene 3 (“Two truths are told” – “But what is not”. )

Macbeth | Act 1, Scene 5 (“The raven himself is hoarse” – to cry “Hold, Hold!”)

Macbeth | Act 1, Scene 7 (“If it were done” – “And falls on th’ other –“)

Macbeth | Act 1, Scene 7 (“What beast was then” – ‘Have done to this”)

Macbeth | Act 5, Scene 1 (“Out, damned spot” – “To bed, to bed, to bed!”.) 

Macbeth | Act 5, Scene 3 (“I have lived long enough” – “and dare not.”)

Macbeth | Act 5, Scene 5 (“She should have died” – “Signifying nothing”.)

William Shakespeare – Macbeth Act 5 Scene 8 (Final Scene) | Genius – (‘I will not yield” – “Hold enough”.)

Announcements: 

We wish everyone season’s greeting and will see you again in March 2026. The Louis Joel Summer Program is packed with great activities and can be accessed via this link - Louis Joel Arts & Community

Credits: 

Hosts: Peter Roberts, Colleen Murphy & Lesley Lamb  

Original music composed by Andrew Gilpin and Sam Price. 

Editor: Colleen Murphy

The Kindness of Water – Helen Jarvis 

In our twelfth episode we discuss the work of one of our very talented local poets, Helen Jarvis, who has just released her first collection, The Kindness of Water, published by 5islands Press. Helen grew up in England and now lives in Melbourne/Naarm, where she teaches English. Her poetry has won many awards and has been published in journals and anthologies. 

Poems discussed in this episode:

Compositor

My father was a hand compositor.

He filled each frame with characters in heavy

metal fonts, from left to right, with the nick upwards,

gauging the gaps between the words,

ens and ems of white space

to fit the forme.

He loved the old serif fonts, born of

prototypes hand chiseled with precision.

He scorned their digital ghosts,

that flex and shift to fit a screen,

approximations that bear clean sharp lines,

not the jag & blur of fresh ink.

When I write, I am bound

by the metallic tang and heft

of hand-forged galleys, framed by his eye

for cool white space,

the hot metal in my veins an unholy alloy

of Thames clay and the silt of the Yarra.

And whether you hear my voice

clothed in the centuries of grace that is Garamond

or in the jaunty flapper rhythms of Eric Gill,

you’ll glimpse the imprint of my father’s hands—

their dance within the margins—

that lends form to the body of my words.

The poem ‘Washing my Mother’s Hair’ or ‘I Wash My Mother’s Hair’ is available on Island magazine’s website:

https://islandmag.com/read/washing-my-mothers-hair-by-helen-jarvis

Restless

In my mother’s country, I trace the fleeting shades   

of childhood. Throats gulp plosives, pitched too high;  

I wonder how I’d sound if I had stayed.

Out on the estuary, sanderlings serenade

the wind, skim the goose-tide that wanes and sighs

in my mother’s country, tracing fleeting shades

through spiral casts of lug-worms, silt and clay.

The streets flow polyester. Walking them, a spy,

I wonder how I’d sound, if I had stayed.

The lovely buildings crack with rain, decayed;

department stores now reek of vapes and fries. 

In my mother’s country, I trace fleeting shades.

My mother’s mind runs restless as the waves.

Mired in unyielding time, the days slip by.

I wonder how we’d sound, if I should stay.

Down in the eel-grass, stints and dunlins wade.

I wish her calm, between saltmarsh and sky.   

In my mother’s country, I trace fleeting shades—

a daughter—wonder how I’d sound if I could stay.

Piano Concerto No.2

An upstairs flat in Leeds—the broken bed,

with Shostakovich playing, and the red

and cobalt glass that throws splashes of light

across your chest. This feeling that we might

not ever move from here again. My arm

at rest upon your hip, the piano calm,

andante, settling sweetly on that long

and lovely movement, following the strong

triumphant wildness of the earlier score,

awash with newness, and with something raw

and tender that I don’t yet understand.

Your breath, the dusty ceiling rose, your hand,

its fingers curled in mine; so let me keep

this record as the music dims, as sleep

drifts in—the crackling stylus, your soft face,

and evening shadows slipping into place.

Announcements: 

The Fortnightly Pier Poetry Group, facilitated by Peter, has changed its meeting time to Wednesday evenings from 7. 00pm to 8. 30pm at the Louis Joel Arts + Community Centre (5 Sargood St, Altona).  The next meeting will occur on 5 November. Come along if you love talking poetry.

The Louis Joel Spring Program is now available by following this link - https://www.ljac.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/FINAL-2025-LJAC-SPRING-Program-A4.pdf  A veritable feast of activities are available.

We would like to hear from you! 

If you would like to be interviewed about a poem or if you just want to share your love of poetry, send us an email on [email protected]. Constructive criticism and praise are welcomed. Currently we have a focus on a favourite poem you were taught at school or during your childhood. 

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Credits: 

Hosts: Peter Roberts & Colleen Murphy 

Original music composed by Andrew Gilpin and Sam Price. 

Editor: Colleen Murphy

Simon Says

Lyrics discussed in this episode:

Announcements: 

We would like to hear from you! 

If you would like to be interviewed about a poem or if you just want to share your

In our tenth episode we take a deep dive into the poetry of little known Australian poet, Lesbia Harford  (1891 – 1927).  John Kinsella, in the introduction to The Penguin Anthology of Australian Poetry, Kinsella J ed. Penguin, Melbourne,  2009 p 47 - 48  describes her as ‘the radical and unique Lesbia Harford, whose poetry of ambivalent sexuality, working class values and titled syntax would open the doors to modernism in so many ways.’ And he is right!

We are very fortunate to be joined, in this episode, by the wonderful, and extremely knowledgeable Lesley Lamb, who has written a thesis on Harford’s contribution to literature, feminism and social justice.

Poems discussed in this episode: Please note that while most of the links look identical they should take you to the nominated poem.

Grotesque - Poetry Platform - the largest database of poetry, save it to read later!

Skirt Machinist - Poetry Platform - the largest database of poetry, save it to read later!

All Day Long - [All day long]

Periodicity - Poetry Platform - the largest database of poetry, save it to read later!

Deliverance Through Art  - Poetry Platform - the largest database of poetry, save it to read later!

A Bronte Legend - Poetry Platform - the largest database of poetry, save it to read later!

Announcements: 

The Fortnightly Pier Poetry Group at Louis Joel Arts & Community, facilitated by Peter, is on at 11am on Fridays with the next meeting occurring on 8 August, 2025 . Come along if you love talking poetry.

We would like to hear from you! 

As part of our 'Hobsons Choice' segment, we would like to hear from you. If you would like to be interviewed about a poem or if you just want to share your love of poetry, send us an email on [email protected]. Constructive criticism and praise are welcomed. Currently we have a focus on a favourite poem you were taught at school or during your childhood

In our ninth episode we move away from European styles of poetry and examine a Japanese form – the tanka, a close relation to haiku. Rodney Williams, poet and editor of the journal Catchment – Poetry of Place returns as our guide to educate us about tanka and share some of his writing in that form.

Hobson’s Choice also returns with a focus on poetry we were taught at school. Ann Pilkington and Anneliese Rosenmayer share their memories of poems they first encountered as students and still remember to this day!

Poems discussed in this episode:

Meg Merrilies | The Poetry Foundation

Cargoes poem - John Masefield

Tanka by Rodney Williams

past the pier

a cormorant surfacing

well away

from where it dived –

your message safely home

A bird-loving man: haiku and tanka, by Rodney Williams (Ginninderra Press, Port Adelaide, Aust, 2013

fingerlings

break the lake’s surface

in eights and tens

with threats from beneath

bedsheets twisted at dawn

 Fred the Rescue Cat: 70 tanka, by Rodney Williams (Ginninderra Press, Port Adelaide, Aust, 2023)

shimmering

on the desert track

a mirage

her smile radiant

for the man behind me

A bird-loving man: haiku and tanka, by Rodney Williams (Ginninderra Press, Port Adelaide, Aust, 2013

on harvest

potato bags stand full

by red furrows. . .

in fields far to the west

long rows of white crosses

A bird-loving man: haiku and tanka, by Rodney Williams (Ginninderra Press, Port Adelaide, Aust, 2013

hothouse

butterflies –

she smiles

at a wink

of blue wings

Fred the Rescue Cat: 70 tanka, by Rodney Williams (Ginninderra Press, Port Adelaide, Aust, 2023)

Announcements: 

The Fortnightly Pier Poetry Group at Louis Joel Arts & Community, facilitated by Peter, is on at 11am on Fridays with the next meeting occurring on 27 June, 2025 . Come along if you love talking poetry.

Email [email protected] to register your interest. 

Louis Joel Arts and Community Centre will soon be offering their wonderful Winter 2025 program. There are so many great things on offer – for details go to Louis Joel Arts & Community

We would like to hear from you! 

As part of our 'Hobsons Choice' segment, we would like to hear from you. If you would like to be interviewed about a poem or if you just want to share your love of poetry, send us an email on [email protected]. Constructive criticism and praise are welcomed. Currently we have a focus on a favourite poem you were taught at school or during your childhood, but anything that strikes you is great.  Get in touch!

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Credits: 

Hosts: Peter Roberts & Colleen Murphy 

Original music composed by Andrew Gilpin and Sam Price. 

Editor: Colleen Murphy

In our eighth episode, and our first of 2025,  we take a deep dive into the poetry of acclaimed American poet, Mary Oliver (1935 – 2019) .  Her work is inspired by long walks in nature but she takes a novel approach driven by an unquenchable curiosity and a refusal to bow to negativity or adverse circumstances. 

We also enjoy a fun quiz on the 10 greatest poets of all time.  Who do you think should make this auspicious list?

There is no Hobson’s Choice segment in this episode but we are collecting responses from the community regarding a favourite poem that they were taught at school and these will be aired in the future. 

Poems discussed in this episode:

The Journey poem - Mary Oliver

Starlings in Winter poem - Mary Oliver

When Death Comes poem - Mary Oliver

Announcements: 

The Fortnightly Pier Poetry Group at Louis Joel Arts & Community, facilitated by Peter, is on at 11am on Fridays with the next meeting occurring on 16 May, 2025 . Come along if you love talking poetry.  

Email [email protected] to register your interest. 

Louis Joel Arts and Community Centre are currently offering their wonderful Autumn 2025 program. There are so many great things on offer – for details go to Louis Joel Arts & Community

We would like to hear from you! 

As part of our 'Hobsons Choice' segment, we would like to hear from you. If you would like to be interviewed about a poem or if you just want to share your love of poetry, send us an email on [email protected]. Constructive criticism and praise are welcomed. Currently we have a focus on a favourite poem you were taught at school or during your childhood. 

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Credits: 

Hosts: Peter Roberts, David Tredinnick & Colleen Murphy 

Original music composed by Andrew Gilpin and Sam Price. 

Podcast Coordinator: Colleen Murphy

Editor: Colleen Murphy

In our seventh episode we return to where we began, with Dave and Col interviewing Peter and taking a deep dive into three poems. Whilst this tends to be a serious adventure there is a place for humour – perhaps a different way of looking at some pertinent topics around diversity and a close examination of the part a certain piece of furniture plays in all our lives. This episode, unlike the last, is free of venereal disease.

Following this we are fortunate enough to be able to interview noted West Gippsland poet, Rodney Williams. He also provides three important poems of his as well as some genuinely educative insights into certain forms of poetry – most notably the

Hobson’s Choice returns with an interview with Eloise Wilson who reads a poem from one of our favourites!

We would like to hear from you! 

Poems discussed in this episode:

West by Peter Roberts

https://inreview.com.au/inreview/books-and-poetry/2024/09/04/poem-west/

The Spectrum Strikes Back by Peter Roberts

https://beatnikcowboy.com/2023/08/10/peter-roberts/

Bed by Peter Roberts

1/.

It is said that those who hate to go to bed

2/.

This was the moment she adored as the

3/.

It just felt so disparate, so wonderful.

Case Moth by Rodney Williams

In a brotherless boyhood

From Muir Woods to Walhalla

https://www.mascarareview.com/rodney-williams/

Beneath stage lights by Rodney Williams

It’s not my place to invent soliloquy

Credits: 

https://www.ljac.com.au/louis-joel-gallery/whats-on/

This will be the final Louis Joel Poetry Podcast for 2024 as we take a break in December and January 2025.  We look forward to hearing from you over the break!

This Podcast has been supported by: 

Louis Joel Arts and Community 

The Louis Joel Poetry Pod aims to be a forum for discussion about poetry, what people like and what they don’t and why. A strong emphasis is placed upon making poetry accessible and fun with a diverse range of writers, forms, media etc. Each podcast will have interviews with poets, with people who convene poetry appreciation groups, with editors or producers of poetry magazines and perhaps most importantly with members of the community outlining some of their favourite poems or song lyrics, and why etc. 

The latter is a segment we are calling Hobson’s Choice as it reflects our little beachside community in Altona in the Hobson Bay area just to the west of Melbourne, Australia’s CBD. 

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In our sixth episode we look at Children’s Poetry. This proves to be a fascinating journey with some wonderful rhymes and rhythms, but it also takes us to some dark places that we didn’t fully anticipate. On our way we hear a wonderful recording of a very young David Tredinnick tackling A A Milne, an unlikely connection to the Doobie Brothers and even, a slightly unwelcome, brush with Syphilis. ‘So were going on a Bear hunt, it’s going to be big one, be we’re not scared…. or at least Colleen and Peter aren’t, Dave conversely….

Hobson’s Choice returns with an interview with young brother Miles and Albert who read some of their favourite children’s poems

Poems and Lyrics discussed in this episode:

Otto The Loyal Long Dog Book by Lizzie Walkley

Jack and Jill - Wikipedia

Little Boy Blue by Eugene Field

Disobedience by A. A. Milne

The Owl and the Pussy-Cat by Edward Lear

Wynken, Blynken and Nod by The Doobie Brothers

Sunday Morning Coming Down lyrics by Kris Kristofferson

Magic by Miles Kendall Thompson

You may not believe in magic

you may believe fairies aren't real

but if Santa didn't exist

then presents wouldn't have a deal!

If the easter bunny was a myth

the world wouldn't have chocolate eggs!

you wouldn't run outside

with excitement in your legs!

If the tooth fairy wasn’t so real

you wouldn’t want to lose your teeth

you wouldn’t want adult ones

hiding underneath

So, let's say together

"I believe in them now!"

magic happens to those who trust

and you don't need to know how!

We would like to hear from you! 

As part of our 'Hobsons Choice' segment, we would like to hear from you! 

If you would like to be interviewed about a poem or if you just want to share your love of poetry, send us an email on [email protected]. Constructive criticism and praise are welcomed. 

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Credits: 

Hosts: Peter Roberts, David Tredinnick & Colleen Murphy 

Original music composed by local Altona residents, Andrew Gilpin and Sam Price. 

'Hobsons Choice' Guest: Albert and Miles

Podcast Coordinator: Zoe Jones 

Editor: David Tredinnick

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Announcements: 

We were saddened this week to hear of the passing of the great Kris Kristofferson, who we regard as one of the great lyrical poets of country, or indeed, any music. We pay a bit of a homage to him by reading the lyrics of his fabulous song, Sunday Morning Coming Down. Certainly not Children’s Poetry but magnificent, nonetheless.

The Fortnightly Pier Poetry Group at Louis Joel Arts & Community, facilitated by Peter, is on at 11am on Fridays with the next meeting occurring on 18 October. Come along if you love talking poetry.  

Email [email protected] to register your interest. 

Full Spring program of the Louis Joel Arts & Community Centre Programs & Events can be found here: 2024 Spring Program

This will be the second last Louis Joel Poetry Podcast for 2024 as we take a break in December and January 2025. We will return in 2025, and the pod will then be available on Spotify and Apple.

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This Podcast has been supported by: 

Louis Joel Arts and Community 

5 Sargood Street, Altona 

[email protected] 

The Louis Joel Poetry Pod aims to be a forum for discussion about poetry, what people like and what they don’t and why. A strong emphasis is placed upon making poetry accessible and fun with a diverse range of writers, forms, media etc. Each podcast will have interviews with poets, with people who convene poetry appreciation groups, with editors or producers of poetry magazines and perhaps most importantly with members of the community outlining some of their favourite poems or song lyrics, and why etc. 

The latter is a segment we are calling Hobson’s Choice as it reflects our little beachside community in Altona in the Hobson Bay area just to the west of Melbourne, Australia’s CBD. 

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In our fifth episode we talk with the fascinating Zerafina Zara about her multifaceted artistic career as poet, songwriter, musician, dancer, vocal coach etc. with a particular focus on recent poetry she has written. Zerafina’s work demonstrates an observational dimension punctuated with emotion and humour. Not to be missed.

We also explore the work of the famous Scottish poet, Carol Ann Duffy. Duffy is much loved for her versability, humour and capacity to write from the perspective of historical characters, both famous and otherwise. She was the first women, the first Scot and the first openly same sex attracted person to become Poet Laureate of the UK!

Hobson’s Choice returns with an interview with Ciara who talks about Taylor Swift’s lyrics. Who said we are not contemporary!

Poems and Lyrics discussed in this episode:

Phone Rage by Zerafina Zara

Migraine by Zerafina Zara

Anger by Zerafina Zara

Waiting for the Rain by Zerafina Zara

Warming Her Pearls by Carol Ann Duffy

Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy

We Remember Your Childhood Well by Carol Ann Duffy

Last Post by Carol Ann Duffy

The Lakes lyrics by Taylor Swift

Shake It Off by Taylor Swift

We would like to hear from you! 

As part of our 'Hobsons Choice' segment, we would like to hear from you! 

If you would like to be interviewed about a poem or if you just want to share your love of poetry, send us an email on [email protected]. Constructive criticism and praise are welcomed. 

Credits: 

Hosts: Peter Roberts, David Tredinnick & Colleen Murphy 

Original music composed by local Altona residents, Andrew Gilpin and Sam Price. 

Podcast Guest: Zerafina Zara

'Hobsons Choice' Guest: Ciara Duffy-Quinn

Podcast Coordinator: Zoe Jones 

Announcements: 

The fortnightly Pier Poetry Group at Louis Joel Arts & Community, facilitated by Peter, is on at 11am on Fridays with the next meeting occurring on 20 September. Come along if you love talking poetry.  Email [email protected] to register your interest. 

Full Spring Program of the Louis Joel Arts & Community Centre Programs & Events can be found here

Our guest from episode 4, Louise Karch, has a book First Aid for Fairies – From Rain to Rainbows which is currently available at Just for the Health of It at 73 Anderson Street, Yarraville and Louis Joel Arts & Community.

We have a limited number of free copies which we will provide to people who send a brief piece of poetry or prose on the subject of wellbeing to [email protected].

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This Podcast has been supported by: 

Louis Joel Arts and Community 

5 Sargood Street, Altona 

[email protected] 

The Louis Joel Poetry Pod aims to be a forum for discussion about poetry, what people like and what they don’t and why. A strong emphasis is placed upon making poetry accessible and fun with a diverse range of writers, forms, media etc. Each podcast will have interviews with poets, with people who convene poetry appreciation groups, with editors or producers of poetry magazines and perhaps most importantly with members of the community outlining some of their favourite poems or song lyrics, and why etc. 

The latter is a segment we are calling Hobsons' Choice as it reflects our little beachside community in Altona in the Hobsons Bay area just to the west of Melbourne, Australia’s CBD. 

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In our fourth episode we talk with the fascinating Louise Karch about her current book, First Aid for Fairies – From Rain to Rainbows. This is a fabulous publication for young people about strategies for resilience written largely in iambic pentameter! Louise Karch, M. Ed is an uplifting speaker and award-winning author of Word Glue and co –author of The Carbon Almanac. She has spoken from the Arctic to Auckland advising professionals, educators and emerging leaders on a wide range of issues relating to wellbeing and leadership.  

We also discuss the concept of applied poetry and how verse can help us to understand people, their circumstances and much more. Are we using the right terminology? Perhaps or perhaps not but poetry has a great capacity to help us learn, understand and respect all manner of life experience. That’s why we love it!  

Hobsons’ Choice returns with an interview with Piper Bushby who talks about the poem Warning by Jenny Joseph.

Poems and Lyrics discussed in this episode:

⁠In Plain Sight Book by Shaun Austin⁠

⁠Not Waving but Drowning by Stevie Smith⁠

⁠Morning Song by Sylvia Plath⁠

⁠Warning by Jenny Joseph⁠

We would like to hear from you! 

As part of our Hobsons' Choice segment, we would like to hear from you! 

If you would like to be interviewed about a poem or if you just want to share your love of poetry, send us an email on [email protected]. Constructive criticism and praise are welcomed. 

Credits: 

Hosts: Peter Roberts, David Tredinnick & Colleen Murphy 

Original music composed by local Altona residents, Andrew Gilpin and Sam Price. 

Podcast Guest: Louise Karch

Hobsons' Choice Guest: Piper Bushby

Podcast Coordinator: Zoe Jones 

Announcements: 

The Fortnightly Pier Poetry Group at Louis Joel Arts & Community, facilitated by Peter, is on at 11am on Fridays with the next meeting occurring on 23 August. Come along if you love talking poetry. Email [email protected] to register your interest. 

Full winter program of the Louis Joel Arts & Community Centre Programs & Events can be found here: ⁠⁠Winter Program 2024⁠⁠ 

Louise Karch’s book First Aid for Fairies – From Rain to Rainbows is currently available at Just for the Health of It at ⁠73 Anderson Street, Yarraville, Melbourne VIC 3013⁠ and the Louis Joel Arts and Community Centre. Global preorders are coming soon.

This Podcast has been supported by: 

Louis Joel Arts and Community 

5 Sargood Street, Altona 

[email protected]