In which I first talk criticism, the plagiarism machine, trying to make a living in the arts, the inanity of excessively identity-politicked bios, and nod to Brian Brett, who died this week and who I will pay homage to the next episode. Then I intro Donna, how we met, her books and we have a lively repartee for the next 45 minutes on her poems, of which she reads two, after we get through a recitation of two old pieces that we had published together long ago, and before we talk the moon, other species, the sonnet, humour, poetic development and the need for reviews and better communication in the small world of Canpo :) Enjoy!

1931-2012. Intro on blurbs and Plath. Then Macpherson’s bio, a bit from Tanis MacDonald on finding her plaque and house, obit, scholarly stuff, the Frye School, Atwood remembers and before and after I read two of her poems then at the end (following a random ad!) you can hear Jay herself reading Whale from 1957’s The Boatman. Enjoy!

Mostly 2010 (edited by Lorna Crozier) vs 2024 (selected by Bardia Sinaee). I include review excerpts, comparisons and contrasts relating to intros, formats, bios, notes, style etc and end by reading my poem White Sale from 2010 and Carolyn Smart’s piece Ashes from 2024. My raspy cold-gritty voice goes in and out of rough but at least I don’t cough! Enjoy!!

The last collage with two verses of a tune by Krummi, a teensy bit of a story about a troll Alda told in the car, my prattle about the residency”s benefits, a long interview with psychologist of the creative brain, Barb Kerr from Kansas, and a poem, yes, I wrote this morning at the creek. Enjoy! Skol!!

Called Turning Back. The profiteering government/aka the dangers of high winds forced the evacuation of a trailer park in 2021-22 in Laugarvatn. What’s left? I find a nest. Recite a creek lyric. I heard a fly buzz when I did not yet die. Enjoy!

One a poet called Latra-Bjorg with a quatrain (1716) and a bit of a song plus the start of a talk about her and the former a famous worker of the sea known as Thurithur (1750) with a minute of a lecture on her. Plus an overview of the strike yesterday and the need for equality and respect and freedom from fear so we can live fully and create. Enjoy!

In which, post our art presentation, in two parts she speaks of the residency, her own history as an artist, feminism, the way artists are treated in Iceland and how she learned poetry. First she recites a bit of Thaw Wind by Stephan G Stephansson and then at the end a short piece from a slim pink book by a young poet called Solveig Thoroddson. Enjoy!

A poem by Jonas Thorbjarnarson but first a clip from the song Human Error by Moskvit whom I danced to last night and a chat about things I’ve noticed in Iceland about language, driving and attitude. Enjoy!

Called Wintering. She’s an American poet who was in residency at Gullkistan and whose book I found here! Plus what I do every day. And the rain. Enjoy!

I talk about my day trip to Vik and Skogafoss and first play a recording of a 1750-1800 song about Hella and her drowned child, then read from a piece about Icelandic poetry as it relates to nationhood, and then end with a rawlings teaching us Icelandic by using the word for glacier. Enjoy!