The Poetic Turn

In this episode of The Poetic Turn, we welcomed Professor Joanne Diaz from Illinois Wesleyan University. The poem chosen for this episode, “Shotgun, Rabies,” is from her most recent book, Electric Dress. Her previous book, My Favorite Tyrants, contains the poem "Demeter's Last Stand," which was featured here on a previous The Poetic Turn podcast.

Be sure to check out one of our very favorite poetry podcasts, Poetry for All, which is co-hosted by Professor Diaz. It can be found wherever you listen to podcasts, and right here: https://poetryforallpod.com

Also mentioned in this episode:

The Poetry Foundation’s Poem a Day: https://poets.org/poem-a-day

The Best American Poetry series: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Best_American_Poetry

The book, Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Transform Our Health

Evan's website: www.evancarlsonactor.com

Darren's website: www.darrensvoice.com

Our cover art is by Lara Johnson: @lara_johnson_art

keywords: poetry, observation, writing, reading, literary history, poetic turn, Joanne Diaz, Electric Dress, My Favorite Tyrants

John Keats, a name that resonates through the corridors of poetry, is the focal point of this episode of The Poetic Turn. Co-hosts Darren Stephens and Evan Carlson welcome Keats scholars, Brian Rejack and Mike Theune, to explore the life and work of this remarkable poet.

Brian Repack at Illinois State University: https://romantic-circles.org/person/brian-rejack

Mike Theune at Illinois Wesleyan University: https://www.iwu.edu/english/faculty/theune.html

The website on which they collaborate, The Keats Letters Project: https://keatslettersproject.com/description/

Also mentioned in this episode of the podcast: 

The Keats poem “La Belle Dame sans Merci: A Ballad”

Diane Seuss's book Modern Poetry

The book Keats Odes, A Lover’s Discourse

The 2009 biographical romantic film, written and directed by Jane Campion, Bright Star

The book about interlinked lives of the young English Romantic poets:

Young Romantics: The Shelleys, Byron, and Other Tangled Lives

The Paris Review article The Vale of Soul-Making

keywords: John Keats, Romanticism, Negative Capability, Poetry, Literary History, Shakespeare, Homer, Translation, Poets, Poetry Education

Evan's website: www.evancarlsonactor.com

Darren's website: www.darrensvoice.com

Our cover art is by Lara Johnson: @lara_johnson_art

Virginia Bell, poet, teacher, and editor of Rhino Poetry, shares insights into poetry, its forms, and her creative process. 

Rhino, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year, has evolved from grassroots workshops into a nationally recognized publication. https://rhinopoetry.org

A link to Virginia Bell’s poem “Pop Song:” https://exterminatingangel.com/pop-song/

A link to Virginia Bell’s poem “Oh, Mother:” https://www.swwim.org/swwimeveryday/2024/5/24/oh-mother

Virginia Bell’s website: https://virginia-bell.com/

Virginia Bell’s book “Lifting Child from the Ground, Turning Around:" can be found here.

Evan's website: www.evancarlsonactor.com

Darren's website: www.darrensvoice.com

Our cover art is by Lara Johnson: @lara_johnson_art

keywords: poetry, Virginia Bell, Rhino magazine, poetic forms, attention in poetry, poetic turn, motherhood poetry, ekphrastic poetry, defamiliarization, the poetic process

In this episode, Daniel Smith shares his poetic journey rooted in farming life, his influences like poet Gary Snyder, and the importance of capturing fleeting moments through poetry. We explore how his work preserves rural heritage and inspires future generations.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Daniel Smith and his poetic roots

02:17 Why Daniel started writing poetry: influence of family and land

06:52 First poem: Gary Snyder's influence and farm life

15:05 Story behind 'Texas Nineteen Seventy Four'

27:13 Austin Smith's poetry and their father-son connection

33:47 Daniel's current writing and recent publications

The poems on today's podcast can be found in Daniel Smith's book Ancestral.

"Instructions on How to Put an Old Horse Down" can be found in Austin Smiths book Almanac.

Poems from the Winter House by Daniel Smith

Ancestral by Daniel Smith

Gary Snyder - Official Website - https://www.garysnyder.org/

Daniel's son Austin Smith's website: https://austinsmithpoetry.com/

The episode on The Poetic Turn featuring Austin Smith: https://www.thepoeticturn.com/austin-smith-the-poetry-of-place/

Evan's website: www.evancarlsonactor.com

Darren's website: www.darrensvoice.com

Our cover art is by Lara Johnson: @lara_johnson_art

In this episode of the Poetic Turn, Darren and Evan dive into one of the most famous poems in the English language: The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe. Along with a reading of the poem and a discussion of it, there is a musical version of the poem performed aaaaall the way back in the 80s, performed by The Four Guys Standing Around Singing, an acappella group in which Darren performed. Love it or hate it, if you listen to this podcast, you'll escape the poem... Nevermore!

The Raven, by Edgar Allan Poe.

Evan's website: www.evancarlsonactor.com

Darren's website: www.darrensvoice.com

Our cover art is by Lara Johnson: @lara_johnson_art

Wallace Stevens' "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird" is a profound exploration of perception, reality, and the interplay between the observer and the observed. Through its innovative structure and rich imagery, the poem invites readers to engage with the complexities of existence in a meaningful way. As we reflect on Stevens' work, we are reminded of the importance of embracing multiple perspectives and the beauty that lies within the act of observation.

Read the poem:

Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird

A link to Dan Smart's blog Rhythm is the Instrument: https://www.rhythmistheinstrument.com

Dan's book The Flowers of Nonchalance can be found here.

Evan's website: www.evancarlsonactor.com

Darren's website: www.darrensvoice.com

Our cover art is by Lara Johnson: @lara_johnson_art

Wallace Stevens' "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird" is a profound exploration of perception, reality, and the interplay between the observer and the observed. Through its innovative structure and rich imagery, the poem invites readers to engage with the complexities of existence in a meaningful way. As we reflect on Stevens' work, we are reminded of the importance of embracing multiple perspectives and the beauty that lies within the act of observation.

Read the poem:

Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird

A link to Dan Smart's blog Rhythm is the Instrument: https://www.rhythmistheinstrument.com

Dan's book The Flowers of Nonchalance can be found here.

Evan's website: www.evancarlsonactor.com

Darren's website: www.darrensvoice.com

Our cover art is by Lara Johnson: @lara_johnson_art

Walt Whitman, an iconic figure in American poetry, invites us to explore the essence of humanity through his works. In today’s post, we’ll delve into some of his most resonant poems, reflecting on themes of connection, love, and the joy found in companionship. Whitman’s ability to capture the beauty of everyday moments makes his poetry timeless, and understanding it can enrich our appreciation of literature and life itself.

Walt Whitman (1819-1892) was a groundbreaking American poet known for his innovative style and themes of democracy, nature, and human connection. His seminal work, Leaves of Grass, celebrates the individual and the collective, making him a pivotal figure in American literature. Whitman’s poetry often blurs the lines between the personal and the universal, inviting readers to reflect on their own lives in relation to the world around them.

I Sing The Body Electric

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45472/i-sing-the-body-electric

A Glimpse

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/50478/a-glimpse

When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45479/when-i-heard-the-learnd-astronomer

Evan's website: www.evancarlsonactor.com

Darren's website: www.darrensvoice.com

Our cover art is by Lara Johnson: @lara_johnson_art

The conversation delves into the life and work of Robert Burns, exploring his poetry, the tradition of Burns suppers, the challenge of understanding Scots language in his poetry, and the significance of Scotland's bawdy song tradition. The use of music in Burns' poetry and the reading and interpretation of his work are also highlighted.

Takeaways

• Robert Burns' poetry is often set to music, with half of his poems being lyrics to existing melodies.
• Burns suppers are a worldwide tradition, celebrated on his birthday with readings, songs, and haggis.
• Burns' use of Scots language in his poetry presents a challenge for modern readers
• Bawdy poetry was a significant part of Burns' writing
• We discuss Robert Burns' reputation and personal life

A Red, Red Rose

To a Mouse

John Anderson my jo, John

Evan's website: www.evancarlsonactor.com

Darren's website: www.darrensvoice.com

Our cover art is by Lara Johnson: @lara_johnson_art

This episode of The Poetic Turn delves into the world of haiku with poet and singer-songwriter Jenny Bienemann. Many singer-songwriters have taken inspiration from Jenny's haiku, and this large group of artists have created an entity that has come to be known as the Haiku Milieu.

From HAIKU MILIEU VOL. 1

FORTHCOMING NEW ALBUM: Friday Night Live

Robin Bienemann

“Forever Wishing - YouTube”

Old Sky New

Rachel Drew

“Forever Wishing - Bandcamp”

Forever wishing
To be somewhere else except
When I am with you.

Single

Kelli Owens Hutton:

“Car Seat Hot Sun - Youtube”

Car seat in the hot sun

Hot as the hinges of hell

And less forgiving

From HAIKU MILIEU VOL. 2

Where It Really Starts

by Jon Langford & the Bright Shiners

“Tell Me Your Stories - YouTube”

Tell me your story

Begin at the beginning

and leave nothing out

Love Bug

Naomi Ashley

“Be In Love with You - Bandcamp”

In all that we do

We are either making love

Or making nothing

Pretty Little Bow

Jodi Walker

“Wandering Eye - YouTube”

Can you remember

what it felt like to desire

all that you have now?

From SUNDAYS WITH JENNY

Ukulele Duke

“With Love Surrounded - YouTube"

Lay down your weapons

Love has got you surrounded

There is no way out

The most-written-to haiku Jenny shared, that is not in the perfect 575 structure: 

tears like stars must fall

Hearts like stones must sink

Grief like Dawn must break

Robert Lloyd and Janet Bean’s cover of Jon Langford’s song:

https://readdork.com/track/robert-lloyd-black-cat-dark-horse-d2-3-tears-like-stars

Jon’s version of Tears like Stars on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MObgcP0jEX8

*************

Evan's website: www.evancarlsonactor.com

Darren's website: www.darrensvoice.com

Our cover art is by Lara Johnson: @lara_johnson_art