The New Yorker: Poetry

Bianca Stone and Kevin Young discuss Franz Wright's poem 'Learning to Read' and the themes of loneliness, learning, and the complex relationship with a stepfather. They explore the power and depth of poetry, the relationship between autobiography and poetry, and the framing and structure of a poem. They also touch on the IDF's bombardment of Gaza and the impact of sanitizing it on Israeli TV screens.

Evie Shockley, a distinguished professor, discusses Rita Dove's poem 'Hattie McDaniel Arrives at the Coconut Grove', highlighting themes of black actresses in old Hollywood and representation. She also explores her own poem 'The Blessings' referencing black literary figures, rhyme schemes, the representation of 'Eve', myth, lowercase style in poetry, and interconnectedness and resilience in her work.

Dorothea Lasky, author and poet, joins Kevin Young to read and analyze Louise Bogan's 'Three Songs.' They discuss themes of abandonment, haunting, and the power of psychic thoughts. They also explore the unique ending of poems and the shift in tones and themes. The episode delves into the power of open-ended poetry and the significance of punctuation.

Diane Mehta, author of 'Forest with Castanets,' reads Eavan Boland's 'The Lost Art of Letter Writing' & her poem 'Landscape with Double Bow'. Topics include the lost art of letter writing, memory, feminist perspectives, musical imagery, and the balance between lushness & staccato elements in poetry.

Adrienne Su joins Kevin Young to read “The Longing to Be Saved,” by Maxine Kumin, and her own poem “The Days.” Su is a professor and Poet-in-Residence at Dickinson College, whose work has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Pushcart Prize, and the Money for Women/Barbara Deming Memorial Fund. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

David Baker joins Kevin Young to read “In Passing,” by Stanley Plumly, and his own poem “Six Notes.” Baker has received honors and awards from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Theodore Roethke Memorial Foundation. He served as poetry editor of the Kenyon Review for more than twenty-five years, and he teaches at Denison University, in Ohio. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Kate Baer and Ellen Bass discuss the emotional complexity of everyday life in Bass' poem 'The Morning After' and explore themes of enduring love and everyday relationships. They also delve into gender dynamics, erasure poetry evolution, and recommend exploring more poetry on The New Yorker platform.

Robin Coste Lewis discusses her family's history through discovered photographs, inspiring her latest book. Topics include Black intimacy, Louisiana's legacy, cosmic connections, hidden histories in archives, and finding joy amidst grief.

Sandra Cisneros joins Kevin Young to read “Shelter,” by José Antonio Rodríguez, and her own poem “Tea Dance, Provincetown, 1982.” Cisneros is the recipient of a 2022 Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, a National Medal of Arts, the Ford Foundation’s Art of Change Fellowship, and the PEN/Nabokov Award for Achievement in International Literature. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Diane Seuss joins Kevin Young to read “Ode,” by Jane Huffman, and her own poem “Gertrude Stein.” Seuss is the winner of the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry and the same year’s National Book Critics Circle Award for her collection “frank: sonnets.” Her honors also include a Guggenheim Fellowship and the 2021 John Updike Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices