The Troubadour Podcast

Send us a textRobert Frost and Donald Trump would have been great friends. They have so much in common: They were both born in big American cities, both have wide appeal in rural America and both speak with poetic fervor about walls. “I will build a great wall — and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me… I will build a great, great wall on our southern border…mark my words,” said President Trump. Indeed, Robert Frost, too, has marked some words about walls in his poem, Mending Wall, which tells the story of two neighbors fixing the gaps in the walls which separate their property.Trump and Frost are truly kindred spirits, for both also have a love of proverbs. Many of Frost’s’ phrases have made it into the American vernacular, and Trump is more than happy to use the phrases passed down to him. In his love poem about walls, Frost coined the saying: “Good Fences Make Good Neighbors;” recently Trump eloquently quoted his father’s saying: “a nation without borders is not a nation.” Indeed, Mr. Trump and Mr. Frost must be soulmates.Unlike Frost, the President will not merely speak of building a wall; he’ll do it. “Mark my words,” he states. Don’t discount words too fast, however. There’s power in words as there’s power in building walls. In Frost’s’ realm, he waxes poetical on the beauty of walls: “Something there is that doesn’t love a wall, that sends the frozen-ground-swell under it, and spills the upper boulders in the sun; and makes gaps even two can pass abreast.”Who doesn’t love a wall? That makes boulders spill like milk in the sun, and that pushes the earth beneath like two barefooted lovers walking on damp grass. The very existence of a wall stresses our togetherness. Take a moment to picture two people walking in an open field. One wanders over here by the thrush and another over there by a boulder; this separation is not possible when they approach a wall. They must find the gap and then “two can pass abreast.”Despite criticisms of President Trump, his intentions are pure. “We are going to stabilize on both sides of the border and we also understand that a strong and healthy economy in Mexico is very good for the United States,” he said upon his Presidential announcement to build a wall. “Today, America get’s back control of its borders.” Indeed!Frost would nod gravely in agreement. “The work of hunters is another thing,” he would add. Referring to the heartache of mending his wall season after season, due to jackals and beasts of all sorts, he says “I have come after them and made repair where they would have the rabbit out of hiding to please the yelping dogs. The gaps I mean, no one has seen them made or heard them made, but at spring mending time we find them there.” As Trump emphasizes many times, the days of cartels “wreaking havoc in our country is over. We are going to get them out and we are going to get them out fast.” How poetic, indeed!Again Robby Frost would nod sagely and add to his buddy’s assessment. Walls also bring neighbors together. Trump’s wall, after all, will need repairing from time to time. And so our two nations must come together every spring mending time to repair it. When these gaps are found, perhaps the nation to our south will act as Frost does: “I let my neighbor know beyond the hill; and on a day we meet to walk the line and set the wall between us as we go.” Trump, in fact, may not be willing to go so far as his friend Frost here. For, to Frost, this mending of the walls is a “kind of a game” played by neighbors. Oh isn’t that fun? Indeed:“To each the boulders that have fallen to each. And some are loaves and some so nearly balls we have to use a spell t

Shar Lemond, author of 'Travel Secrets Book One: Rio De Janeiro,' discusses the differences between women's and men's literature, exploring themes of femininity, masculinity, and cultural diversity. The conversation delves into the portrayal of ambition in fiction, challenges faced in Brazil, and the evolving gender roles and relationships in modern society.

Send us a textIn part 3 of our 4 part series we explore "Rappaccini's Daughter," one of Hawthorne's most famous short stories.Whether we understand it or not, our American culture is heavily shaped by Science Fiction. It is arguably the closest we get to a literary genre. It's power is so immense that our views of things like the lone-billionaire scientist (think Musk) and the doting old intellectual (think Bernie) still follow us around today. When we look to scientists to solve all of our ecological, biological, earthly "problems" we are acknowledging the impact of sci-fi. Science today resembles a religion of old with its leaders and secretive language and gatekeepers.This of course is most assuredly NOT science. It is, instead, the by-product of the evolution of science in a literary artform.In this four part series we are exploring the original conception of this genre. How it was envisioned and some of the original solutions to this primary character: the scientist. What can a scientist know? When should we take scientists at their word? Should we relegate the entire realm of knowledge to the specialists of today?Explore these ideas as well as the personal moral values in Hawthorne's romantic sci-fi stories in part 3 of our 4 part series.

Exploring romantic and realistic elements in 'Taken' and 'The Equalizer'. Analyzing characters, themes, and box office success. Reflecting on influence of romanticism in everyday movies. Examining characters' identity and choices. Discussing romantic elements in action movie characters. Exploring morality and saving in literature and film. Delving into ethics and selflessness in action movies.

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Send us a textThis was an impromptu facebook live I did on the first day I started receiving submission for the magazine.

A poet discusses the nature of poetry, spoken word, and his forthcoming book. They delve into the influence of childhood literature, the significance of language in poetry and rap, and explore literary influences like Victor Hugo. The conversation also reflects on themes of racial identity, societal judgment, and branding insights for poets.

Send us a textThis marks Stacey's second time on the podcast and this time we chatted about the first of John Keats' "Ode" Poems, Ode to Psyche.One of the keys to using this poem in our real life is to ask ourselves if it is possible to maintain a passionate love affair throughout our entire lives? Does passion have to fade? Can it remain eternal? What role does the imagination play in this process? Stacey Reay is a popular youtuber who teaches literature and poetry across the pond. Not only did she add valuable insights into the poem but she brought her considerable knowledge of rhyme, meter and prosody to our conversation.  Subscribe to her youtube channel for much more: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJhuqpyhE8NzYZFkwTzi_7g

Delving into Homer's epics, the discussion examines characters like Achilles and Odysseus, evolution of language and consciousness, intellectuals' impact on society, and the complexity of free will. Explore the influence of reading, evolution of Bronze Age societies, and the great man theory in history.

Send us a textHave you ever thought this about a romantic partner: "Is she or he The One?"Likely, if you're over 25, this is a question you've seriously contemplated. But how do we get a sense of The One? Where does it come from? What shapes our unique individual desire for The One?The One is an ideal. it's why so many mates seem to "fall short." They are actual, temporal, real, while The One is ephemeral, unreal, imaginary.Should we give up The One for the actual? Do we have to?Explore this poem by John keats where he brings you on a journey into the realm between the eternal perfect ideal and the world we inhabit in the here and now.For full show notes and literary terms:https://www.troubadourmag.com/home/odeonagrecianurn