Words on a Wire

Daniel & Ben talk with Cyrus Cassells, author of the new poetry collection, "Crossed-Out Swastika," which features poems told from the perspective of Holocaust survivors and witnesses. Cyrus explains how a trip to Auschwitz and a chance meeting with a Holocaust survivor inspired the poems. The poems are written in couplets to reflect the silence he felt was needed in the poems.

Cyrus Cassells will read this week's Poem of the Week, a new work entitled "Jasmine."

Performance poet Viva Flores delivers a Poetic License unlike any heard before on this program!

...and Ben & Daniel reflect on the pros & cons of Facebook.

Daniel & Ben talk with Raphael Dagold, author of the poetry collection "Bastard Heart." Some of the poems in the collection date back two decades. He talks about the patience he endured in all the years it took to publish this book, and he never once thought of giving up.

For today's Poem of the Week, Raphael Dagold reads "New Elements" from his collection "Bastard Heart."

In today's Poetic License, Antonina Parris-Yarbrough reads "Prus, The Doll, and the Internet," which reflects on the impatience we often feel when confronted with a long, difficult book that we know is going to take a long time to read.

Daniel talks with playwright, actor, and filmmaker, Richard Montoya. Richard's newest project is his directorial debut - Water and Power. Montoya comes from what some may call "Chicano royalty." His father was the acclaimed Chicano poet & artist Jose Montoya, his uncle is poster artist Malaquias Montoya, and his cousin was poet Andrés Montoya, for whom the Andres Montoya Poetry Prize is named. Richard talks about growing up surrounded by Chicano activism, and how his family's social activism paralleled those of Cesar Chavez. He also talks about the satirical theatre troupe Culture Clash and its politically-charged evolution over the years. Richard's new film, "Water and Power," is an adaptation of one of his plays, and will open in L.A. on May 2.

For this week's Poem of the Week, Daniel Chacon reads the unpublished poem "Tree" by Andrés Montoya. The poem will be featured in a forthcoming posthumous collection called "Colón-ization," which is being edited by Daniel.

Ben & Daniel talk with Scott Weems, author of "Ha! The Science of When we Laugh and Why." Scott is a neuroscientist who has been researching the science of humor. He explains that humor is a way for our brains to make sense of the chaos in our minds. Scott also tells us why computers are only good for creating good puns, but can't generate the nuance or complexity of a well-told joke. And..Scott tells us the funniest joke in the world...according to science.

Today's Poem of the Week is Mark Strand's "Eating Poetry," read by Daniel Chacon.

And in today's Poetic License, poet Nancy Lechuga reflects on daydreaming.

Plus...Daniel & Ben talk about their experiences at the recent AWP Writer's Conference in Seattle.

Ben & Daniel talk with Maria Maloney, founder of Mouthfeel Press. Maria talks about what drove her to create the press and why she came up with the name "Mouthfeel." Maria also talks about the friendships she creates with the authors whose works she publishes, and about the future projects we can expect from Mouthfeel Press.

For this week's Poem of the Week, Maria Maloney reads from collection "Pulp" by Celina Villagarcia, which is published by Mouthfeel Press. The poem is "A Mother's Effect on the World."

In this week's Poetic License, Los Angeles writer Conrad Romo talks about connecting with his dad over a Lenten meal of nopalitos.

Ben & Daniel talk with Maria Maloney, founder of Mouthfeel Press. Maria talks about what drove her to create the press and why she came up with the name "Mouthfeel." Maria also talks about the friendships she creates with the authors whose works she publishes, and about the future projects we can expect from Mouthfeel Press.

For this week's Poem of the Week, Maria Maloney reads from collection "Pulp" by Celina Villagarcia, which is published by Mouthfeel Press. The poem is "A Mother's Effect on the World."

In this week's Poetic License, Los Angeles writer Conrad Romo talks about connecting with his dad over a Lenten meal of nopalitos.

Ben & Daniel talk with W.S. Di Piero, author of the poetry collection "Tombo." Di Piero talks about the patterns of sound that stir his poetry. He also discusses the opening poem of "Tombo," and why he chose to open the collection with it. Unlike many other poets, Di Piero doesn't concern himself over the order of the poems in a collection, unless they are following a theme.

For this week's Poem of the Week, W.S. Di Piero reads "Hub Cap: An Essay on Poetry" from his collection "Tombo."

In this week's Poetic License, Benjamin Alire Saenz reflects on forgiveness, humility, and human rights.

And, Ben & Daniel talk about their favorite and not-so-favorite words.

Daniel & Ben dedicate this show to some of their favorite poems & poets. Featured works are Frank O'Hara's "Homosexuality," Gabriela Mistral's "God Wills It," Denise Levertov's "Caedmon," Anne Sexton's "The Truth the Dead Know," Karen Fiser's "Across the Border," and Federico Garcia Lorca's "Despedida."

Daniel talks with Xánath Caraza, author of the new work of fiction, "Lo que trae la marea/ What the Tide Brings," a bilingual collection of stories. Xánath talks about the women in her stories and how they connect to nature. She also talks about the process of translating her Spanish-language works into English with the help of 2 translators. And in a running theme throughout the show, Xánath explains how food inspires her work.

Xánath Caraza reads today's Poem of the Week: Arbol de Vida (Tree of Life).

The food theme continues with Daniel's Poetic License about his poor childhood diet and his endeavor to eat healthier.

Daniel & Ben talk with Liz Scheid, author of the collection of essays, "The Shape of Blue: Notes on Loss, Language, Motherhood & Fear." Liz is also a poet, and she explains how poetry informs her writing. She also talks about the notes that are found at the end of each essay in her collection “The Shape of Blue.” Those notes, far from being purely academic, are almost essays themselves.

Liz Scheid will read the poem "Magic" for this week's Poem of the Week.

In this week's Poetic License, native El Pasoan Paul Pedroza reads "The Rain Parade."

And...Ben & Daniel talk about elegies and epitaphs.