My Bad Poetry

Kelli Russell Agadon makes her triumphant return to the show after nearly two years since she became the first true guest of the show. This time around, Kelli brings three poems from three different eras in her writing career. She talks with Dave and Aaron about "dressing up" poems, choosing strong titles, and flipping everything on its head, when editing one's work.

My Bad Poetry 5.17 "Both Things are True...North of the Eiffel Tower (w/ Kelli Russell Agadon)

End Poem from a Real Poet: "Hum of the Living" by Kelli Russell Agadon

Kelli Russell Agadon is the co-founder of Two Sylvia Press, faculty at PLU, and a poet with Dialogues with Rising Tides published through Copper Canyon Press. You can find more of her work and information about her through her social media accounts and website.

The Stick Figure Poet himself joins Dave and Aaron to share an eclectic collection of bad poetry from the 90s. From cocky self assurance, to shy kid in the corner, to kissing death, the twists and turns will keep the co-hosts on their toes.

My Bad Poetry Episode 5.16 "World, Ambiance..., & Making Love... (w/Darrell Parry)"

End Poet from a Real Poet: "Exorcism" by Darrell Parry, found in Twists: Gathered Ephemera.

Darrell Parry is a writer, editor, and self proclaimed slacker. Darrell also helps organize poetry events and publics readings around the Lehigh Valley area.

When a poet reaches out to the show with the phrase "I am willing to dive into the old, Sad Boi notebooks and unleash all the Cringe" one cannot say no. Court does not disappoint with her selections. Warning, some pot brownies may have been consumed in the writing of these poems... need we say more?

Court Ludwick is an artist, writer, and educator currently pursuing her PhD in Literature and Creative Writing. She is the author of THESE STRANGE BODIES (ELJ Editions, 2024) and the founding editor-in-chief of Broken Antler Magazine. Her writing has been nominated for Best of the Net and the Pushcart Prize. Most recently, her visual art has shown at the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts. Find more of Court's work at www.courtlud.com. 

Dave and Aaron banked an odd episode in case the weekend got busy. Here the co-hosts return to Aaron's high school Wolf Journal with the sad realization that Aaron often dwelled on the same topics and styles. They take this opportunity to discuss types of love.

My Bad Poetry 5.14 Untitled Wolf Journal Entry (Obsession Redux)

End Poem from a Real Poet: "Poem Not to Be Read at Your Wedding" by Beth Ann Fennelly

From dark tendrils to spotted slugs and briars of prongs, L.M. Cole's draft folder is full of some strange images. Aaron and Dave dive into the draft folder with L.M. to find the less than subtle cries for help in the glassy ocean that is... Iowa?

My Bad Poetry Episode 5.13: "Pumpkin King ... Decreasing Functionality (w/ L.M. Cole)"

End Poem from a Real Poet: "No Portents On This Path" by L.M. Cole recently published in Feral.

L.M. is an artist and poet residing in North Carolina with

Dave and Aaron find themselves in the presence of the 2023 Omnidawn 1st/2nd Book Prize winner, jason b. crawford! That being said the poems they share on the show aren't ones that made the cut for Yeet! or Year of the Unicorn Kidz, or really anything... and that is probably a good thing. Hear jason's undergrad and recent grad work that were found in an old folder on an old email that they were gracious enough to dig out for all to hear.

My Bad Poetry Episode 5.12 "Playground & Have you ever seen a guilty man's hanging? (w/ jason b. crawford)

End Poem From a Real Poet: "Untitled 1975-86" by jason b. crawford published in July/August 23 Poetry Magazine.

jason b. crawford is a prize winning poet with works in Barren Magazine, Frontier Poetry, Glassworks Magazine, Kissing Dynamite, Poetry Magazine, Frontier Poetry, and so many more. Their chapbooks good boi,Twerkable Moments, and full book Year of the Unicorn Kidz can be found and purchased online. You can follow their work on their website here: https://www.jasonbcrawford.com/

While Dave is unable to make it, Aaron and Madeleine carry on a cosmic journey over a silk road to a ocean of plastic. From 2017 and 2018 archived documents Madeleine finds evidence of unrequited love and odd artistic choices. Feel free to use any of these lines for your Valentines. She even brings a short song to kick things off. Also, no dolphins were harmed in the recording of this episode.

My Bad Poetry Episode 5.11: "Confinement, Silk Road, & Adynaton (w/ Madeleine Corley)"

End Poem From a Real Poet: "Overstimulation" by Madeleine Corley originally published in Pigeonholes

You can follow Madeleine Corley's many project @madelinksi. Make sure to check our her daily songs on Tik Tok or Instagram and visit her website https://madelinksi.com.

Nicole returns to My Bad Poetry with a high school poem and a college assignment (that earned an A). The only thing these two poems share? Nicole thinks they are bad. Since Dave and Aaron have no clue how to speak or read French they will just have to take her word for it.

My Bad Poetry Episode 5.10: "Ode to My Pal, John & La Reine du Déguisement (w/ Nicole Tallman)"

Find Nicole Tallman and more of her work on her website: https://nicoletallman.com/ and/or follow her on Twitter @natallman. 

Shiksha wants to make it clear that these are the poems of a 16 year old so listeners beware. From "school is a prison," to a personified Death, Shiksha takes Dave and Aaron through the ringer of cliche high school poems. They all find a little solace in the fact that we all tend to need the same things, and in the end isn't that a sweet piece of cake to consider?

My Bad Poetry Episode 5.9: "The Jail I Enrolled Into, The Fallen god, & Chocolate Cake (w/Shiksha Dheda)"

End Poem from a Real Poet: "Can I Please Stop Growing Now" by Shiksha Dheda recently published with Monologgging.

Shiksha's poetry collections Washed Away: a collection of fragments, The Tragedy of Touch, and We are All Pretty Bizarre: Ramblings About the Movies, are all available for purchase online.

Look for her newest essay collection dropping on soon through Anxiety press!

Dave and Aaron welcome back the Gorgan writer herself, Raegen Pietrucha. Raegen has done her due diligence and dug up two old poems from her own high school journal (covered with suns and moons no less). Along with one hold over poem from her last appearance, the the co-hosts work through the emo angst, rhymes, and stream of consciousness to conclude... high school is a weird time.

My Bad Poetry Episode 5.8: "Untitled & Desperation (w/ Raegen Pietrucha)

End Poem from a Real Poet: "This is Not a Love Poem" by Raegen Pietrucha

Raegen Pietrucha is a editor, poet, writer, and consultant currently working on her memoir. She has two previous poetry books Head of a Gorgan and An Animal I Can't Name .

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