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.

A narrative prose poem about two brothers — one on a visit home from college — who are turning to face east in their small shared room. With seven years between them, one is a young man and the other, the poet, is nearing his teens. Their prayer is interrupted by a sudden surprising noise, and the sound of this makes them fall over each other in laughing. Their bodies, their joy, their uncontrollable delight is the prayer of their own lives.Kaveh Akbar is an Iranian-American poet and scholar. He is the author of Pilgrim Bell, Calling a Wolf a Wolf, and the chapbook, Portrait of the Alcoholic. His poems appear in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Paris Review, Best American Poetry, and elsewhere. In 2020, Kaveh was named Poetry Editor of The Nation.Find the transcript for this show at onbeing.org.

Margaret Atwood, a literary titan, joins celebrated poets Kaveh Akbar and Danez Smith, along with esteemed writer Tishani Doshi. They delve into the essence of poetry, exploring how it reflects human experience. The conversation highlights themes of love, lament, and joy, offering a deeper understanding of the emotional nuances within poetry. Each poet shares their unique perspective, inviting listeners to immerse themselves in the richness of lyrical expression and discover how poetry mirrors our complex lives.