Poetry Unbound

BONUS: Making Space for the Erotic with Aimee Nezhukumatathil

Aug 30, 2023

Aimee Nezhukumatathil, author, discusses the beauty of solitude, eroticism in poetry, and a letter writing practice. They also explore shame, representation, and desire, as well as the life and music of trailblazer Lucille Bogan. Embracing uniqueness, the power of dance, and nature's presence are also discussed.

01:00:50

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Episode guests

Aimee Nezhukumatathil

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Quick takeaways

Aimee Nezhukumatathil carves space for desire and motherhood, allowing them to coexist in her poems.

Nezhukumatathil emphasizes the importance of embracing sensuality and desire in her work, challenging societal expectations and celebrating the beauty of the human body.

Deep dives

Podcast Episode Summary

Amy Nizukamutato, a poet and prose writer, is interviewed in this episode of Poetry Unbound. She discusses her love for poetry, her early influences, and the power of specific language. Nizukamutato emphasizes the importance of embracing sensuality and desire in her work, challenging societal expectations and celebrating the beauty of the human body. She also shares her passion for nature and how it informs her writing. Throughout the episode, Nizukamutato reflects on the role of religion in her life and her belief in the transformative power of love. The interview concludes with a reading of her poem 'Seachurch,' which explores the concept of church as a place of connection and grounding.

Passion for Unconventional Reading

01:29

Exploring Erotic Poetry with Why I Crave Ribs Tonight

01:05

The Power of Letter Writing in Nurturing Connections

01:07

Introduction

3min

Transformative Power of Poetry

4min

Erotic Poetry and the Desires of the Body

5min

Exploring Shame, Representation, and Desire

3min

Lucille Bogan: A Trailblazer in Mississippi's Music Scene

17min

Embracing Uniqueness and the Power of Dance

3min

Nature's Presence

26min

Aimee Nezhukumatathil’s poems are filled with butchery and blood as she carves space for desire, motherhood, and an encyclopedic knowledge of plants to coexist in life and on the page. We are excited to offer this conversation between Pádraig and Aimee, recorded during the 2022 Dodge Poetry Festival in Newark, New Jersey. Together, they explore the beauty of solitude, eroticism in poetry, and a letter writing practice for taking inventory of a life.

Aimee Nezhukumatathil is the author of a book of nature essays, World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, & Other Astonishments (Milkweed Editions, 2020), which was named a finalist for the Kirkus Prize in non-fiction, and four award-winning poetry collections, most recently, Oceanic (Copper Canyon Press, 2018). Awards for her writing include fellowships from the Mississippi Arts Council, Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Award for poetry, National Endowment of the Arts, and the Guggenheim Foundation. Her writing has appeared in NYTimes Magazine, ESPN, and Best American Poetry. She is professor of English and creative writing in the University of Mississippi’s MFA program.

Find the transcript for this show at onbeing.org.

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