In this interview I am joined by John Brehm, American poet and author of ‘The Dharma of Poetry’.
John recalls his early life in Nebraska, formation as an unlikely poet, use of psychedelics, and discovery of the aesthetic impulse.
John reads ‘Non-Harming’, a poem from his latest book ‘Dharma Talk’, and reflects on the use of poetry for personal and religious edification, as well as the power of exposing one’s darker dimensions in verse.
John also discusses how to achieve profundity in poetry, the skilful use of language, why T.S. Eliot is so often criticised, and how to detect the unmistakable whiff of ego.
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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep230-the-dharma-of-poetry-john-brehm
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
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Topics include:
00:00 - Intro
00:49 - A controversial poem
02:58 - Self awareness of one’s foibles
04:21 - How poets present themselves
04:56 - Ikkyu
05:21 - Making the sinful sacred
07:02 - Overly solemn poetry readings
07:52 - John reads ‘Non Harming’
10:05 - Reflections on the poem
11:54 - Working class upbringing in Nebraska
13:04 - An unlikely poet
14:46 - The poetic calling
16:29 - Psychedelics
18:19 - Early poetic influences
20:06 - The art of seeing one’s local place
24:42 - An aesthetic impulse
25:53 - How to relate to a poem
27:46 - Aggressive approaches to poetry
29:09 - Nondual poetry practice
31:21 - How the high modernists made poetry elite
32:41 - Williams vs Eliot
34:08 - Anybody can enjoy poetry
36:16 - Poetry as edification
39:57 - The unmistakable whiff of ego
41:56 - The one who stops
45:41 - How to reach profundity in writing
50:23 - How to craft effective language
53:32 - How to read a poem aloud
55:34 - The role of memorisation
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To find out more about John Brehm, visit:
- https://www.johnbrehmpoet.com/
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For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- www.guruviking.com
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
