George Bilgere's work explores the quotidian and what is poetic, sad, and beautiful there. In this episode Keith Hansen reads three of Bilgere's poems: "Horseplay", "The Table", and "Strawberries". I think you'll find something to love here.

I quote this video of Bilgere speaking about his poetry.

https://vimeo.com/94205250

May I humbly suggest that you take this poem--"Sea Fever" by John Masefield--and memorize it? You won't regret it. 

My friend Anna and I discuss and enjoy a poem that ambushed her. 

What is lost and what is gained when poetry moves from one language to another? I briefly ponder this question and share three translations of Anna Akhmatova's poem "Heart's Memory of Sun Grows Fainter". 

In this episode I share two highlights from the mailbag this week.

Tom Clark reads from Paige Lewis' collection Space Struck. 

This episode is another field trip to a cemetery, this time in the good company of classicist-poet A.E. Stallings and her beautiful poem "Memorial (Mnemosyne)".

Two of my college roommates sent me audio files recently, and they both happened to be poems by Robert Lewis Stevenson. It seemed like a good time for an episode featuring his winsome, easily memorizable poetry that so captures the childhood experience. 

I read "Bed in Summer"

Lydia and Will share "My Shadow"

Melanie shares "The Swing" 

In this episode I share "The Pupil" by native Kentucky poet Maurice Manning. This poem tells the story of an interior Appalachian scene and does artistic work that I believe is unique to poetry. I draw upon Matthew Zapruder's book Why Poetry? to aid my attempts to explain it. 

When the air smells like cut grass it's time for some spring poetry! This week I share the sonnet "God's World" by Edna St. Vincent Millay. 

What do you want?

It can be difficult to articulate an answer to that question, and even more difficult to find the courage to tell the truth about it to someone else. But Sharon Olds has the guts of ten regular people and the brilliant words to back them up. Enjoy the ride!