Poet Kaveh Akbar and Ellen Bryant Voigt discuss the power of language in shaping perception of nature and taxonomy through their poems. They explore themes of delight, instruction, self-awareness, loneliness, and recovery in poetry. The conversation delves into the impact of silence on language perception and personal experiences with linguistic diversity.
Ellen Bryant Voigt's poem 'Groundhog' inspired Kaveh Akbar with its incantatory style and charged language.
Poetry explores the power of naming, shaping thoughts, and perceptions, as reflected in the discussed poems.
Deep dives
Exploring the Poem "Groundhog" by Ellen Bryant Voigt
In the podcast episode, poet Kava Akbar discusses his fascination with Ellen Bryant Voigt's poem "Groundhog." He describes the impact the poem had on him, highlighting its charged language and incantatory style. Akbar emphasizes how the poem's play with momentum and language resonated with him, making it a transformative experience.
The Power of Naming and Identity in Poetry
The conversation delves into the significance of naming and identity in poetry. Akbar and the host discuss how naming in poems can be politically and socially powerful. They reflect on the idea that names shape thoughts and carry intense connotations, impacting how individuals and objects are perceived. The poem discussed in the episode embodies the complexities and implications of naming.
Personal Journey and Recovery Explored in Poetry
The podcast delves into Akbar's personal journey, particularly his experiences with addiction and recovery. Akbar shares how writing poetry became a respite and a way to work through his struggles. His poem "What Use Is Knowing Anything, If No One Is Around?" is examined in relation to his journey, reflecting themes of solitude, self-perception, and the quest for meaning amidst personal trials.
Kaveh Akbar joins Kevin Young to read and discuss Ellen Bryant Voigt’s poem "Groundhog" and his own poem "What Use is Knowing Anything If No One Is Around". Akbar is the author of the poetry collection “Calling a Wolf a Wolf,” as well as the recipient of a Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowship, a Pushcart Prize, and the 2018 Levis Reading Prize.