Episode #21: Why We Need PoetryHost: Jude DiMeglio TrangGuest: Dr. Abram Van Engen

Description:Dr. Abram Van Engen, author, professor, and Chair of the English Department at Washington University in St. Louis, joins Jude to explore why we need poetry—not only as art but as something deeply human. From his podcast Poetry for All to his award-winning book Word Made Fresh: An Invitation to Poetry for the Church, Abram shares how poetry shapes imagination, deepens attention, and helps us rediscover beauty and truth in a hurried world.

We talk about:

· Why poetry is about more than delivering a message

· The difference between reading and hearing poetry

· The origins of poetry as a spoken, not written, art form

· Free verse and why it’s more structured than people think

· How poetry requires patience and deep attention in a distracted age

· Poetry as witness — calling us to see and respond to injustice

· Examples from poets like Gerard Manley Hopkins, Billy Collins, and Walt Whitman

· How rhythm, meter, and performance bring poems to life

Join the Conversation:We’d love to hear how you’ve seen the “Gift of Need” show up in your life. Share your story in the comments or leave a review. Please follow this podcast and rate it. Subscribe to my free newsletter to get future episodes and newsletters sent right to your inbox.

Music Credit:Gabe Kubanda / Damn Plans (Instrumental) © 2021 Kubanda Music

Engineer:Ray Ingegneri, Third Street Productions, Tucson, AZ

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit judedimegliotrang1.substack.com