The Poetry Nook

This month in the Nook, Analía and Charlie find some unexpected connections (what else is new) between their poems on the unlikely but inevitable marriage between body and soul, and the beauty that partnership can bring forth.

• "The Loon on Forrester's Pond" by Hayden Carruth
• "Journey" by Alfonsina Storni

This month in the Nook, Charlie and Aní throw caution to the winds and go themeless for their poetry choices; but as usual, they manage to locate some threads of connection between them. This one gets a little deep... but in a life this beautiful and complicated, a little depth is called for, and poetry is the perfect diving vehicle.

This month's poems:

• "An Old Man" by C.P. Cavafy
• "As Much As You Can" by C.P. Cavafy
• "Tell All The Truth But Tell It Slant" by Emily Dickinson

It's July in the Poetry Nook, which means summer is all around -- and Charlie and Analía have very different takes on it! Two poems from Idea Vilariño and Joy Harjo offer two sides to the same summery coin; but as usual, your hosts find some strong threads of connection between them. Break out the sunblock and enjoy a summer session of the Poetry Nook!

• "Un Verano" by Idea Vilariño
• "Emergence" by Joy Harjo

For the June Poetry Nook, Analía and Charlie chart out the Venn diagram between music and poetry; bring two musical poems (or poetic lyrics?) to the table; and dig into the artistic process behind poetic songwriting and adaptation.

• "Beautiful Flowers" by Andrew Marlin of Watchhouse (Song on Spotify / Lyrics)
• "A Mi Hermano Miguel" by César Vallejo (Spanish / English Translation by Don Patterson / Musical rendition by Mercedes Sosa)
• Translation note for "A Mi Hermano Miguel" by Don Patterson

In honor of the recently-passed National Poetry Month, Aní and Charlie explore the theme of "Ars Poetica" — poems about poetry! Across three poems, Aní and Charlie dive into whether poetry is reflective or distorting (spoiler: it can be both), what ars poetica poems tell us about the "job" of being a poet, and even do a little dream interpretation. Here are this week's poems, including links if they're available publicly:

• "Ars Poetica" by Jorge Luis Borges
• "The End of Poetry" by Ada Limón
• "If This Were a Job, I'd Be Fired" by Billy Collins

In a special seasonal episode of the Nook, Charlie brings a few springtime poems to the table to discuss with Analía. From Ted Kooser, a dog poem that creates a bridge between winter and spring; from Tom Hennen, a love poem that makes spring a force multiplier for (possibly) romantic love; and from Mary Oliver, a butterfly parable about spring as a time to fly.

• "Old Dog in March" by Ted Kooser
• "Found on the Earth" by Tom Hennen
• "Spring Azures" by Mary Oliver

On this episode of the The Poetry Nook, Analía shares three poems to celebrate her birthday — including one she wrote herself! Aní and Charlie talk about the power of poetry to draw contrasts between our older and younger selves, and to contain emotions and changes that can sometimes feel too complex to put into words.

In the January Poetry Nook, Charlie and Analía take a polar plunge into the themes of winter, cold, and darkness, while exploring the balance between rest and productivity through two poems:

'Not So Far As The Forest' by Edna St. Vincent Millay

'Starting the Subaru at Five Below' by Stuart Kestenbaum

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