Two Friends Two Poems

In a special three friends episode, Foster Wilson joins the show to discuss her collection of poetry Afternoon Abundance: Poetry for Wild Souls. She lets Tom and Paul each read a favorite before sharing a poem by Kate Baer. But first, Paul gets kicked out of the library! 

Afternoon Abundance: Poetry for Wild Souls is a raw and honest exploration of womanhood, inviting readers to shed societal pressures and embrace their inner wild. Through her vibrant poetry, Foster Wilson delves into the complexities of feminine energy, confronting anger, shame, and loss while discovering hope, empowerment, and colors bursting inside her.

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Music by Wes Cunningham: https://wescunningham.bandcamp.com/album/tough-and-skinny
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Tom Ward on Medium: https://tomwardwrites.medium.com/

In today’s episode Tom dives into another Shakespeare sonnet (30) and Paul reads a poem by Colorado poet Julie Carr. Paul reads his poem “The Theory of Every” and Tom gets greedy with two of his own: “Silent Subway Bit” and “Breakup Song.” 

Thanks for listening! 

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Music by Wes Cunningham: https://wescunningham.bandcamp.com/album/tough-and-skinny
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2bMQqFW6g0gltO8Aapq9TD
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Tom Ward on Medium: https://tomwardwrites.medium.com/

Today Tom reads some verse from one of the greats, Samuel Beckett. Then, Paul shares a poem by Brian Bilston (America is a Gun) before wrapping things up with new poems by Tom and Paul. 

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Music by Wes Cunningham: https://wescunningham.bandcamp.com/album/tough-and-skinny
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2bMQqFW6g0gltO8Aapq9TD
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/wes-cunningham/193208

Tom Ward on Medium: https://tomwardwrites.medium.com/

In today’s episode Tom and Paul read poems by Irish poet Padraig O’Tuama and Eukranian poet Ella Yevtushenko. Paul reads his poem "(I have to) Write a Poem” and Tom reads “A Poem for the Angry Young Man and his Family.” But first, Tom came up with a segment. 

Support the show

Music by Wes Cunningham: https://wescunningham.bandcamp.com/album/tough-and-skinny
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2bMQqFW6g0gltO8Aapq9TD
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/wes-cunningham/193208

Tom Ward on Medium: https://tomwardwrites.medium.com/

A special THREE friends episode! Tom and Paul are joined by Mark Smith, founder and artistic director of the Legacy Theatre in Atlanta, and creator of the stunning new musical Pelagius. Hear poems by Gerard Manly Hopkins, WS Merwin, and Kahil Gibran before Tom reads his new one: Jailbreak. 

Support the show

Music by Wes Cunningham: https://wescunningham.bandcamp.com/album/tough-and-skinny
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2bMQqFW6g0gltO8Aapq9TD
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/wes-cunningham/193208

Tom Ward on Medium: https://tomwardwrites.medium.com/

In today’s episode, Tom and Paul read amazing poetry by Noor Hindi and Natalie Shapero before sharing their own. They also ponder the first time “to whom it concerns” was used. 

“F*ck Your Lecture on Craft, My People Are Dying” by Noor Hindi

“The Sky” by Natalie Shapero 

Support the show

Music by Wes Cunningham: https://wescunningham.bandcamp.com/album/tough-and-skinny
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2bMQqFW6g0gltO8Aapq9TD
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/wes-cunningham/193208

Tom Ward on Medium: https://tomwardwrites.medium.com/

Today Tom sits down with singer/songwriter Wes Cunningham to discuss how he arrives at lyrics (poems with music). Wes shares poems by John Lennon and Carol Bieleck, while Tom dives into Bukowski before sharing his own poem “The Orphan Tree.” 

To listen to Wes’s music go to: https://wescunningham.bandcamp.com/album/courage

Support the show

Music by Wes Cunningham: https://wescunningham.bandcamp.com/album/tough-and-skinny
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2bMQqFW6g0gltO8Aapq9TD
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/wes-cunningham/193208

Tom Ward on Medium: https://tomwardwrites.medium.com/

In this week’s episode, Tom and Paul read poetry by Naomi Shihab Nye and Dylan Thomas. Tom and Paul also discuss if the podcast has had any effect on them to answer the question, “What happens when two friends read poems to each other?” Eventually, they quit stalling and read their own poems: Nova (by Paul) and Acting for Humans (by Tom). Thanks for listening! Do all the things!  

Support the show

Music by Wes Cunningham: https://wescunningham.bandcamp.com/album/tough-and-skinny
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2bMQqFW6g0gltO8Aapq9TD
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/wes-cunningham/193208

Tom Ward on Medium: https://tomwardwrites.medium.com/

In today’s episode Paul reads a poem by Colorado Poet Laureate Andrea Gibson, Tom reads a poem by Billy Collins.

Tom also reads a poem he wrote to the Xfinity chatbot before he and Paul read their original poetry for the day. 

Support the show

Music by Wes Cunningham: https://wescunningham.bandcamp.com/album/tough-and-skinny
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2bMQqFW6g0gltO8Aapq9TD
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/wes-cunningham/193208

Tom Ward on Medium: https://tomwardwrites.medium.com/

Before sharing their own poems, Tom and Paul read works by Walt Whitman and Mary Oliver to set the bar. 

Support the show

Music by Wes Cunningham: https://wescunningham.bandcamp.com/album/tough-and-skinny
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2bMQqFW6g0gltO8Aapq9TD
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/wes-cunningham/193208

Tom Ward on Medium: https://tomwardwrites.medium.com/