Gary Larson's 'The Far Side' is a renowned comic strip known for its unique blend of humor, satire, and surrealism. It was syndicated from 1979 to 1994 and has been compiled into numerous books, including 'The Complete Far Side' and 'The Far Side Gallery' series. Larson's work often features animals and nature, reflecting his background in biology.
Mules of Love by Ellen Bass is a collection of poems that delve into the essential dynamics of life, including family, community, sexual love, joy, loss, religion, and death. The poems are characterized by their warmth, humor, and compassionate handling of darker themes such as personal and cultural violence.
In 'Indigo', Ellen Bass masterfully blends elegy and praise, delving into the dualities of life, from joy to sorrow. The collection features vivid imagery and intimate reflections on aging, love, and the beauty of everyday moments, inviting readers to savor the richness of existence amidst its challenges. Bass's work is characterized by its emotional depth and lyrical precision, making this collection a profound meditation on the human experience.
In 'Like a Beggar', Ellen Bass delves into the complexities of human existence, weaving together themes of sorrow, suffering, and the beauty of imperfection. Her poems are rich with humor and compassion, addressing contemporary experiences such as sex, work, aging, and war. The collection is praised for its luxurious language and its ability to find goodness in adversity.
In 'The Human Line', Ellen Bass tackles crucial moral issues of our time, such as genetic engineering and environmental concerns, while grounding her vision in personal and intimate experiences. The collection is praised for its vivid metaphors and ability to render a complex yet accessible portrait of humanity.
In 'The Genius of Birds', Jennifer Ackerman delves into the remarkable intelligence of birds, highlighting their complex social structures, problem-solving abilities, and innovative behaviors. The book celebrates the surprising cognitive feats of birds, rivaling those of primates and humans in some aspects. Ackerman's work is both personal and scientific, offering a richly informative and beautifully written exploration of avian intelligence.
Ellen Bass is a poet, non-fiction author, and teacher. She is the author of many collections and books including Like a Beggar, The Human Line, and Mules of Love. Ellen’s poems also appear frequently in The New Yorker, American Poetry Review, and many other journals. She’s been awarded three Pushcart Prizes, The Lambda Literary Award, The Pablo Neruda Prize, and The New Letters Prize. Ellen also teaches in the MFA Writing Program at Pacific University. Her newest collection of poetry is entitled Indigo. This is Ellen’s second time as a guest on the show.
In this episode, Ellen and Eric discuss the power of poetry – how it can change us and deepen our experience of and attention to the world around us. Ellen reads some of her incredibly beautiful poetry and as a result, we are indeed changed.
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In This Interview, Ellen Bass and I Discuss the Power of Poetry and…
- Her new book of poetry, Indigo
- How gratitude and love help her combat fear
- Her practice as a poet is to take suffering and make art
- The poem that took her 12 years to write
- That worthwhile things are hard to do – even for experts
- Wanting to be changed after writing or reading a poem
- Her poem, Taking My Old Dog Out To Pee Before Bed
- Her poem, Enough
- What she thinks about when she hears someone else read her poetry as well as how poetry is to be read and heard “out loud”
- Her poem, The Long Recovery
- Trying not to resist the life we have and instead, hurl ourself more deeply into it
- Great poets and their poetry teach us to observe the world more closely and see it as sacred and beautiful
- Her poem, Any Common Desolation
Ellen Bass Links:
ellenbass.com
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Facebook
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If you enjoyed this conversation with Ellen Bass on the power of poetry, you might also enjoy these other episodes:
Ellen Bass (2018 Interview)
Marilyn Nelson
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