Open Windows Podcast

Today’s program considers the end of the calendar year and some of its significances.  Today, December 1, is the first day of winter in the meteorological calendar. This is the month of the winter solstice; it’s the time of Advent and Christmas in the Christian calendar, Hannukah in the Jewish calendar, and Yule for pagans.  It’s the time when daylight is short and the end of the calendar year, we believe, promises the return of light. So today I’d like to read some poems that consider the idea of light returning to the world. The coming of light, of course, means that there is also darkness that must be conquered or dispelled. That tension between darkness and light is what gives the return of light its ultimate power.  I read poems by Emily Dickinson, Dylan Thomas, Wendell Berry, and Latvian poet Inara Cedrins. I end with one of my own poems that considers the tension between light and dark as well.

I conclude my readings of poems from books published by Virtual Artists Collective during the course of the past two decades. I read translations into English of poems by women poets of the Tang Dynasty in China: Xue Tao, Li Ye, Yu Xuanji, Cheng Changwen, and palace maid Tianbao.

I continue my reading of poems from books published by Virtual Artists Collective during the course of the past two decades. I read poems by Scott Wiggerman, David Wright, and Agnė Žagrakalytė. I end the program with three of my own poems.

I continue my reading of poems from books published by Virtual Artists Collective during the course of the past two decades. I read poems by Wally Swist, Larry Thomas, Judith Valente, Sarah Webb, and Arisa White.

I continue my reading of poems from books published by Virtual Artists Collective during the course of the past two decades. I read poems by Elizabeth Raby, Li Sen, Steven Schroeder, and Jamie Stern.

I continue my readings of poems from books published by Virtual Artists Collective during the course of the past two decades. I read poems by Lorraine Henrie Lins, Katia Mitova, Li Nan, Donna Pucciani, and Matthias  Regan.

I continue my reading of poems from books published by Virtual Artists Collective during the course of the past two decades. I read poems by Albert DeGenova, Ken Hada, Laurynas Katkus, Christopher Kelen, and Kerry  Shawn Keys.

I continue my reading of poems from books published by Virtual Artists Collective during the course of the past two decades. I read poems by Jerry Craven, Sherry Craven, Nitoo Das, Paul Friedrich, and Patricia Goodrich.

I continue my reading of poems from books published by Virtual Artists Collective during the course of the past two decades. I read poems by Sandra Becker, Rosebud Ben-Oni, Daniel Bowman, David Breeden, and Inara Cedrins.

In my program today, and in several of my programs to come, I will be reading from books published by Virtual Artists Collective during the course of the past two decades. I read poems by Nina Corwin, Christopher Gallinari, Lu Wei, Scott Wiggerman, Tang Danhong,  Li Sen, and Steven Schroeder.