Poetry Unbound

Taylor Johnson — Pennsylvania Ave. SE

Dec 6, 2024

Dive into the nostalgic reflections of youth as Taylor Johnson’s poem brings to life the innocence of boys on bicycles. The journey through memory captures the deep yearning to feel seen and free. With rich imagery, explore how childhood aspirations shape personal identity. The discussion highlights the emotional weight of cherished memories and the universal struggles of growing up. Johnson’s pride in his D.C. roots adds a layer of connection to his evocative storytelling.

13:21

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Taylor Johnson's poem 'Pennsylvania Ave. SE' evokes nostalgia for youth and freedom while exploring the complexities of identity and memory.

The upcoming poetry collections emphasize literary diversity and community support, including notable contributions from acclaimed poets and new works by Pádraig.

Deep dives

Upcoming Poetry Collections

Two poetry collections are scheduled for release in early 2025, showcasing a range of voices and themes. The first collection, titled '44 Poems on Being with Each Other', will feature 44 poems alongside 44 essays, including works from renowned poets such as Jericho Brown, Mary Oliver, and Lucille Clifton. Additionally, there will be a collection of original poems called 'Kitchen Hymns' by the speaker. Pre-orders for these collections are available through various online platforms and local bookstores, emphasizing the importance of supporting local literary communities.

Exploration of Yearning and Identity in Poetry

11min

Reflections on Childhood and Identity

3min

When you look at people who are younger than you — particularly teenagers — does your mind ever take you back to yourself at their age? Taylor Johnson’s poem “Pennsylvania Ave. SE” performs this feat of time travel, going from a glimpse of two boys on bicycles to a haunting sense memory of what was once so yearned for: to be seen, to be wanted, to be free.

Taylor Johnson is proud of being from Washington, D.C. He has received fellowships and scholarships from CALLALOO, Cave Canem, Lambda Literary, VONA, Tin House, Vermont Studio Center, Yaddo, Conversation Literary Festival, Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, and Bread Loaf Environmental Writers' Conference, among others. In 2017, Johnson received the Larry Neal Writers' Award from the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities. His poems appear in The Baffler, Indiana Review, Scalawag, and The Paris Review, among other journals and literary magazines. His first book, Inheritance, was published in November 2020 by Alice James Books.

Find the transcript for this show at onbeing.org.

We’re pleased to offer Taylor Johnson’s poem and invite you to subscribe to Pádraig’s weekly Poetry Unbound Substack newsletter, read the Poetry Unbound book, or listen to past episodes of the podcast. We also have two books coming out in early 2025 — Kitchen Hymns (new poems from Pádraig) and 44 Poems on Being with Each Other (new essays by Pádraig). You can pre-order them wherever you buy books.

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Poetry Unbound

Taylor Johnson — Pennsylvania Ave. SE

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Upcoming Poetry Collections

Exploring Taylor Johnson's Poem

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts