As we wade in the waters, we find ourselves stepping across time - the past, present and future flows through language. A poem from further up the river remains in these currents and in our listening, remakes our understanding of language, ourselves, time.

In this episode of LifeJacket, we hear the poems of Concha Méndez, whose poems, in the words of poet and translator Harriett Truscott, shift from vibrant statements of desire and possibility, through grief at the loss of her first child and her country, to an expression of the role of the poet as truth-teller in the world,.

Featuring Harriet Truscott reading the works of Concha Méndez, recorded at ArtfulScribe’s LitFest 2024. A special thank you to Paola Ulacia Altolaguirre and the Concha Méndez Estate for permission to air this material. You can learn more about Harriet’s work at https://hmtruscott.co.uk/

LifeJacket, a literary podcast and buoyancy aid, produced by ArtfulScribe, available to stream on all platforms, with episodes released every other week. Follow the link in the ArtfulScribe bio or on the website at artfulscribe.co.uk to listen and access liner notes to this episode.

LifeJacket is made possible through Arts Council Funding. Stay buoyant.