The New Yorker: Poetry cover image

The New Yorker: Poetry

Meena Alexander Reads Gerald Stern

Feb 21, 2018
Meena Alexander discusses the emotional depth and shared experiences in Gerald Stern's 'Adonis,' linking memories, music, and dreams with themes of intimacy and immigrant life in New York. She explores poetic inspiration from Kerala and the Nile, reflects on memories and imagery in art, and delves into the poet's intimate connection with creation and home, hinting at future projects.
23:09

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Exploration of memory and longing through 'Adonis' by Gerald Stern
  • Blend of praise and elegy in 'Kochi by the Sea' by Meena Alexander

Deep dives

Exploring Poems and Memories

The podcast delves into the profound voice and breath in the poem 'Adonis' by Gerald Stern. The speaker highlights the sorrow, desire, and early life captured in the poem, which resonates with the universal theme of memory and longing for the past. The emphasis on music as a temporal art form that mirrors the vanishing beauty of life adds a unique layer to the analysis. Through the exploration of craft and intimacy in the poem, the podcast provides insights into the poet's ability to evoke emotions and vivid imagery.

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