Poet Shane McCrae discusses his poetry sequence 'Jim Limber in Heaven' and its themes of adoption, loss, and identity intertwined with the mysterious history of Jim Limber. He also explores the unique structure of his book, Sometimes I Never Suffered, delving into theological themes and the influence of poetic persona and gothic sensibility in literature.

Vijay Seshadri joins Kevin Young to read “The Moon and the Yew Tree,” by Sylvia Plath, and his own poem “Cliffhanging.” Seshadri is a poet whose work has been honored with the James Laughlin Award and the Pulitzer Prize for poetry. His latest book is “3 Sections,” and he recently became the poetry editor of The Paris Review. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Eliza Griswold, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and poet, discusses her 'First Person' poetry series on New Yorker.com. She explores themes of ambition, motherhood, and identity. Griswold reflects on personal inspirations behind the poems, like a car being towed, and the intersection of self, society, and poetry as a transformative ceremony.

Poet and translator Ariel Francisco discusses the profound impact of James Wright's poem 'By a Lake in Minnesota,' exploring themes of nature, existential observations, and the balance between grand and minute details of life. The conversation also touches on the political nature of poetry, reflections on urban life in the Bronx, and the influence of translation in poetry.

Campbell McGrath discusses Czeslaw Milosz's 'Realism' and his own poem 'The Human Heart.' They explore themes of eternal essence in art, evolution of rhyme in poetry, and the cohesion of poetry collections. McGrath reflects on the poet-editor relationship and the influence of music on literature.

Former US Poet Laureate Natasha Tretheway and Kevin Young discuss Charles Wright's poem 'Toadstools' and Tretheway's poem 'Repentance'. They explore themes of renewal, grief, and loss, highlighting the power of poetry to express intricate emotions. Tretheway reflects on her personal journey, embracing innovation in poetic form, and delving into the complexities of nature and human experience.

Safiya Sinclair discusses Natalie Diaz's poem 'From the Desire Field' & her own 'Gospel of the Misunderstood' on the New Yorker Poetry Podcast. They explore magical imagery, themes of desire, and the influence of Jamaican heritage on poetry.

Rachel Eliza Griffiths joins Kevin Young to discuss "Rain Light" by W.S. Merwin, and her own poem "Heart of Darkness." Griffiths is a poet and artist who has received fellowships from the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, Cave Canem Foundation, and Yaddo, among others. Her latest book is "Lighting the Shadow." Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Peter Balakian joins Kevin Young to read and discuss Theodore Roethke's poem "In a Dark Time" and his own poem "Eggplant." Balakian's latest book is "Ozone Journal," which won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Poet Craig Morgan Teicher reads and discusses Forrest Gander's poem 'Son,' drawing parallels to his own work. They delve into themes of mortality, emotion, myth, and familial connections. The conversation explores crafting rhyming sonnets, personal experiences with distant fathers, and the evolution and accessibility of modern poetry in cultural discussions.