The delightful Jenn Allen shares some poetry with us, discussing listening to street-corner prophecy, gloom versus optimism, and being in the moment.

Jenn’s poem: W.B. Yeats, “The Second Coming”: (https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43290/the-second-coming)

Neal’s poem: Billy Collins, “The End of the World”: (https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse?contentId=38569)

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Our guest, Shell Game, is a gifted artist and runs the podcast Extra Credit. This episode, we talk about the perils and pitfalls of teaching poetry, the uneasy relationship between structure and content, and more.

Shell’s poem: Jorge Luis Borges, “Simplicity” (a slightly different translation than the one read on the show is available at https://paulweinfieldtranslations.wordpress.com/2015/09/30/jorge-luis-borges-simplicity/)

Neal’s poem: Harry Crosby, “Assassin” (https://soulonspace.blogspot.com/2009/05/assassin-by-harry-crosby.html)

Check out Extra Credit at thefmin.us

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Talking about sexy mangoes and sensual language with norasleeps.

norasleeps’ poem: e.e. cummings, “i like my body when it is with your” (https://www.sccs.swarthmore.edu/users/01/jillyb/i_like_my_body.htm)

Neal’s poem: Soukaina Habiballah, “Anatomy of the Rose” (https://www.wordswithoutborders.org/article/march-2016-anatomy-of-the-rose-soukaina-habiballah-kareem-james-abu-zeid)

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For this episode, Bill Desmarais visits the show with thoughts about crusty old men, eternal optimism, toxic masculinity, and young love.

Bill’s poem: Matthew Arnold, “Dover Beach” (http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43588/dover-beach)

Neal’s poem: Gary Soto, “Oranges” (http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse?contentId=35513)

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This episode, we share some love for poetry in Spanish with guest Carlos McReynolds. We dance through a labyrinth of language and ponder the difficulties of translating poetry across the language barrier.

Carlos’ poem: Jorge Luis Borges, “El tango”, (http://www.palabravirtual.com/index.php?ir=ver_voz.php&wid=2401&t=El+tango&p=Jorge+Luis+Borges&o=Jorge+Luis+Borges)

Neal’s poem: Octavio Paz, “Wind, Water, Stone” (http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/58334/wind-water-stone)

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Australian firefighter and decent chap Ben Mumford joins Neal for a conversation about how blue-collar life and poetry are not mutually exclusive.

Ben’s poem: Henry Lawson’s “The Green-Hand Rouseabout” (http://www.poetrylibrary.edu.au/poets/lawson-henry/the-green-hand-rouseabout-0022043 )

Neal’s poem: David Greenwood’s “The Worker” (https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse?contentId=15004 )

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Melissa Clancy brings a long-standing beef with John Donne to the show this time. Medieval gender essentialism, poetry for bros, and more are on the table, including, for some reason, Neil Gaiman and Susanna Clarke.

Melissa’s poem: John Donne, “Song [Go and catch a falling star]” ( http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44127/song-go-and-catch-a-falling-star )

Neal’s poem: Michael Drayton, “Idea 61 (Come, let us kiss and part)” ( (http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44153/idea-61-since-theres-no-help-come-let-us-kiss-and-part )

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Mix joins us to talk about accessibility in poetic expression, how memory works, and the effects of the internet on growing up.

Mix’s poem: Philip Larkin, “This Be The Verse” (https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48419/this-be-the-verse)

Neal’s poem: Fatimah Asghar, “Smell is the Last Sense to Go” (https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/149512/smell-is-the-last-memory-to-go)

Follow Mix’s podcast And So We Go on Twitter @aswgpod and aswgpod.tumblr.com

Follow Poetry for Everyone on Twitter @EveryonePoetry or email the show at [email protected]