The Troubadour Podcast

Send us a textA reading and discussion of the poem "Easter, 1916" by WB Yeats. This poem is considered one of the most powerful political poems of the 20th century.Easter, 1916BY WILLIAM BUTLER YEATSI have met them at close of day   Coming with vivid facesFrom counter or desk among grey   Eighteenth-century houses.I have passed with a nod of the head   Or polite meaningless words,   Or have lingered awhile and said   Polite meaningless words,And thought before I had done   Of a mocking tale or a gibe   To please a companionAround the fire at the club,   Being certain that they and I   But lived where motley is worn:   All changed, changed utterly:   A terrible beauty is born.That woman's days were spent   In ignorant good-will,Her nights in argumentUntil her voice grew shrill.What voice more sweet than hers   When, young and beautiful,   She rode to harriers?This man had kept a school   And rode our wingèd horse;   This other his helper and friend   Was coming into his force;He might have won fame in the end,   So sensitive his nature seemed,   So daring and sweet his thought.This other man I had dreamedA drunken, vainglorious lout.He had done most bitter wrongTo some who are near my heart,   Yet I number him in the song;He, too, has resigned his partIn the casual comedy;He, too, has been changed in his turn,   Transformed utterly:A terrible beauty is born.Hearts with one purpose alone   Through summer and winter seem   Enchanted to a stoneTo trouble the living stream.The horse that comes from the road,   The rider, the birds that range   From cloud to tumbling cloud,   Minute by minute they change;   A shadow of cloud on the stream   Changes minute by minute;   A horse-hoof slides on the brim,   And a horse plashes within it;   The long-legged moor-hens dive,   And hens to moor-cocks call;   Minute by minute they live:   The stone's in the midst of all.Too long a sacrificeCan make a stone of the heart.   O when may it suffice?That is Heaven's part, our part   To murmur name upon name,   As a mother names her child   When sleep at last has come   On limbs that had run wild.   What is it but nightfall?No, no, not night but death;   Was it needless death after all?For England may keep faith   For all that is done and said.   We know their dream; enoughTo know they dreamed and are dead;   And what if excess of love   Bewildered them till they died?   I write it out in a verse—MacDonagh and MacBride   And Connolly and PearseNow and in time to be,Wherever green is worn,Are changed, changed utterly:   A terrible beauty is born.Notes:September 25, 1916

Exploring the distinction between aloneness and loneliness and the benefits of solitude. Delving into literary characters' experiences with being alone. Analyzing the symbolism of aloneness in a painting and the emotional depth it conveys. Discussing the role of solitude in fostering creativity and self-reflection. Exploring the evocative poetry of Edgar Allan Poe and its themes of mystery and passion.

Send us a textIn this episode Luc and Kirk explored the idea of the role of a mentor in ones life. To what degree should we revere them? How personal does the relationship have to be? What value is there in a mentor? How can you be better mentor? What truly does a mentor do? How is a mentor different than a teacher?Luc shared a wonderful sculpture with all of us and Kirk chose a poem (stole might be a better word! From a talk by Lisa VanDamme, "Life Poetry and Keats.")This podcast is a conversation one that will certainly surprise you with the inherent truths in great works of art. You do not need to be a scholar to approach these podcasts. Luc and Kirk provide approachable ways to make art more meaningful in your life.Special thanks to: Lisa Vandamme for her reading of the poem. You can follow along with Lisa's literary readings and commentary on her Read with Me App. Painting Voice Recorders:Adriana Carlson - Author of the young adult novel Penelope and the Hob KingMolly Johnson - Esteemed member of the Surprised by Art facebook group!Jake Rivas - of Jake of All Trades, a financial podcast for millennialsHere's the poem:Great SpiritsBy John KeatsGREAT spirits now on earth are sojourning;He of the cloud, the cataract, the lake,Who on Helvellyn’s summit, wide awake,Catches his freshness from Archangel’s wing;He of the rose, the violet, the spring,        The social smile, the chain for Freedom’s sake:And lo!—whose steadfastness would never takeA meaner sound than Raphael’s whispering.And other spirits there are standing apartUpon the forehead of the age to come;        These, these will give the world another heartAnd other pulses. Hear ye not the humOf mighty workings in the human mart?Listen awhile, ye nations, and be dumb.

Send us a textA discussion of the new show, Andor on Disney+

Send us a text*To view the full painting visit: https://www.troubadourmag.com/post/surprised-by-art-3-childhood-wildnessOn this episode you get to hear a fundamental disagreement between Luc and Kirk regarding the interpretation of the poem.This was a wild ride of a show. You'll get to experience a wonderful painting that most people pass by. It's a hidden gem rife with meaning, despite its minimalism. Luc and Kirk discussed the nature of wildness, bravery, thrill seeking and more with this painting.WIth the poem, Luc and Kirk got to experience a knight's tale, from a very unusual and unexpected location.We wanted to give a special thanks to our voice recording volunteers! They did a wonderful job describing the painting. Deanna Hekkinen of Piisan Academy, Rachael Rivera, and Jason Letman

Send us a textOn this episode both Kirk and Luc are quite surprised at what they find similar and different between the chosen painting and poem.Luc chose a wonderful painting to illustrate "Righteous Defiance," and Kirk chose a rousing poem to define the topic.The audio podcast is designed to help you visualize the painting without seeing it, but eventually you should explore the painting for yourself. We recommend exploring it after you hear the recordings of other people giving their first impressions.You can see the painting and some close ups of it here: https://www.troubadourmag.com/post/surprised-by-art-righteous-defianceSpecial thanks to our volunteers, who took one quick glance at the painting and described it: Jennifer Minjarez, Atul Kapur, Amy Chou, and Sean Doherty (in order of appearance).

Send us a textToday Luc Travers and Kirk cover the topic that you chose "Man's Loss of Faith."Luc picked a painting that really affected Kirk. And Kirk wowed Luc with his selection.Though paintings are of course visual, we have used audio descriptions of the painting to give you as clear an idea as possible of the painting. We do have a thumbnail that you can see as the artwork for this podcast episode.You can also go to https://www.troubadourmag.com/post/surprised-by-art-man-s-loss-of-faith to experience the painting in the way that Luc recommends.You can also read the poem there.*Note to parents this episode does have a few swear words in it. 

Send us a textJoin me for a reading and discussion of William Cowper's final poem The Castaway (1799)This is the second time I have done a reading of this poem.

Send us a textAn elegy is a poem written to mourn the death of someone. Here we will explore the hidden depths of this philosophic poem.Halloween is a time to face fears. Do not allow the fear of a lack of comprehension of this poem stop you from attempting to mine its meaning and beauty.

Send us a textThis special episode of Troubadour Talks features three members of the Literary Canon Club—a group dedicated to reading through the entire Western Canon from Homer to Rand. Book one in our group was The Iliad. In this episode, Kirk discusses various aspects of Homer’s The Iliad with Molly Johnson, Marco Romero and Heather Schwarz. Even if you have never read the Iliad, this discussion will show you the value of taking time out of your busy life to read great literature.