RVA Loves Poetry

How does it feel to have nowhere left to belong?

Join hosts Eden and Hope as they discuss “Refugee Blues” by W.H. Auden, a haunting poem that portrays the struggles of refugees who are repeatedly denied safety and acceptance, reminding readers of the importance of compassion and shared humanity.

Find the full text of "Refugee Blues" ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Find additional information and more great poems from W.H. Auden on the Poetry Foundation website ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.

How different are we from the people we are taught to fight?

Join host Jonah as he explores “The Man He Killed” by Thomas Hardy, a reflective poem that blurs the line between friend and foe, reminding readers of the shared humanity that war often obscures.

Find the full text of "The Man He Killed" ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Find additional information and more great poems from Thomas Hardy on the Poetry Foundation website ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.

How do people move forward after losing a leader they deeply admired?

Join hosts Eun Hyul and Luke as they explore “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman, a famous elegy that captures the sorrow of celebrating a hard-won victory while mourning the death of the leader who helped make it possible.

Find the full text of "O Captain! My Captain!" ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Find additional information and more great poems from Walt Whitman on the Poetry Foundation website ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.

How does a long illness reshape the rhythms of love, care, and everyday life?

Join hosts Jordan and Malachi as they consider “Her Long Illness” by Donald Hall, a reflective poem that portrays the emotional and physical toll of prolonged illness while revealing the quiet devotion, patience, and enduring love that sustain a relationship through difficult seasons.

Find the full text of "Her Long Illness" ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Find additional information and more great poems from Donald Hall on the Poetry Foundation website ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.

How can music and repetition help us make sense of life's joys and sorrows?

Join host Neema as she explores “God of Song” by Tracy K. Smith, a poem which reveals a mother's abiding love and admiration for her young son's musical spirit.

Find the full text of "God of Song" ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Find additional information about Tracy K. Smith on her website.

Why do memories of the past sometimes bring both happiness and sorrow?

Join host Peter as he explores “Tears, Idle Tears” by Alfred Lord Tennyson, a lyrical poem that reflects on the bittersweet nature of memory and the deep sense of longing that can arise when we think about days that are gone forever.

Find the full text of "Tears, Idle Tears" ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Find additional information and more great poems from Alfred Lord Tennyson on the Poetry Foundation website ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.

How do we recognize joy when it quietly waits for us to welcome it in?

Join hosts Faira and Malindi as they explore "Little Stones at My Window" by Mario Benedetti, a reflective poem that personifies joy as a patient visitor, reminding us to set aside our anxieties and embrace the possibilities and happiness still waiting ahead.

Find the full text of "Little Stones at My Window" ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Find additional information about Mario Benedetti's life and work here.

What happens when a poem forces you to question your own perspective?

Join hosts David and Mozes as they explore "Refugees" by Brian Bilston, a powerful poem that invites its audience to confront assumptions about strangers, belonging, and our shared humanity.

Find the full text of "Refugees" ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Find additional information and more great poems from Brian Bilston on his website.

Join hosts Micah and Yohan as they explore "It Was Like This: You Were Happy" by Jane Hirshfield, a thoughtful poem that encourages readers to reflect on the importance of appreciating life's ordinary moments before they pass.

Find the full text of "It Was Like This: You Were Happy" ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Find additional information and more great poems from Jane Hirshfield on the Poets.org website ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Can forgiveness exist even in the face of betrayal?

Join hosts Lydia-Ann and Tia as they explore "The Feet of Judas" by George Marion McClellan, a poem that highlights one of the most astonishing moments in Scripture: Christ humbly washing the feet of the very man who would betray him.

Find the full text of "The Feet of Judas" ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Find additional information and more great poems from George Marion McClellan on the Poets.org website ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.