Poetry Unbound

No‘u Revilla, an ʻŌiwi queer poet and educator from Maui, shares her insights on poetry rooted in Hawaiian culture. She discusses the emotional journey of her poem 'Smoke Screen,' reflecting on themes of family, labor, and identity. The conversation dives into the complexities of Hawaiian spirituality and the impact of missionaries on the culture. Revilla also highlights Hawaii's rich literary tradition and her personal exploration of queerness, advocating for visibility and acceptance for young queer indigenous women.

In a slight change to the normal format, host Pádraig Ó Tuama speaks with the poet Jake Skeets who reads his poem “Daybreak,” a poem combining Diné language with English, a poem rich with observation: of land, of growth, of memory, of place. Land is not just a tool to use for food, nor is it a blank space for human projection. In this poem, Jake Skeets reflects on an ethical engagement with land: an engagement that sees land as itself, not just for its uses.Jake Skeets is the author of Eyes Bottle Dark with a Mouthful of Flowers, winner of the National Poetry Series. He is the recipient of a 92Y Discovery Prize, a Mellon Projecting All Voices Fellowship, an American Book Award, and a Whiting Award. He is from the Navajo Nation and teaches at Diné College.Find the transcript for this show at onbeing.org.

Tishani Doshi, an acclaimed poet known for her explorations of future themes, presents a captivating vision of a dystopian future in her poem 'Species.' She reflects on extinct agriculture and the memories of humanity living on intergalactic ships. Her work provokes thought about our relationship with nature, urging listeners to learn from the sustainable grace of grass. Doshi's insights highlight the precarious balance between human progress and self-destruction, making her magic-realism resonate deeply in today's climate-conscious world.

In a poem considering trees, Jason Allen-Paisant opens up many associations with trees: in a woodland, there’s a dead tree, from which new forms of life are finding sustenance. He, a Black man in the woods, is aware of people looking suspiciously at him. The poem reflects on how trees were used for building the ships of enslavers, who considered countries and people their property. In light of this, he shares a nature poem about all the things that nature holds.Jason Allen-Paisant is a Jamaican poet whose first poetry collection, Thinking with Trees, was published by Carcanet Press in 2021. His work has also appeared in PN Review, the Poetry Review and Callaloo. He teaches in the School of English at the University of Leeds.Find the transcript for this show at onbeing.org.

Jacob Shores-Argüello, a Costa Rican American poet and prose writer, shares a vivid recollection of childhood grief and imagination. He discusses a poignant poem where he and his cousin transform into bears, escaping into the mountains while grappling with loss. Their fantastical play serves as both refuge and a coping mechanism. The conversation delves into the emotional complexities of childhood innocence, companionship, and the power of creativity in processing sorrow.

Margaret Atwood, a celebrated poet and author known for her influential literary contributions, shares her insights on her poem 'All Bread.' She intricately traces the journey of bread from earth to table, emphasizing its material and symbolic significance. The conversation dives into how ordinary sustenance reflects life, death, and communal sharing. Atwood prompts listeners to ponder the sacredness of bread, connecting it to our shared humanity and the deeper narratives intertwined with daily existence.

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.

Katie Manning, the founding editor-in-chief of Whale Road Review and a writing professor, shares her insights on pregnancy expectations through her clever poem 'What to Expect.' She uses a unique alphabetical approach to dissect societal pressures placed on mothers, revealing both the humor and the weight of these expectations. The conversation dives deep into the dichotomy of embracing and rejecting norms, encouraging women to critically evaluate the standards imposed on them during motherhood.

The opening poem to Ilya Kaminsky’s masterpiece, “Deaf Republic,” is written in the voice of someone who is confessing their complacency during a time of trial. There’s a war going on, but it doesn’t affect the person speaking, so they don’t get involved. Instead they stayed outside and caught the sun. They lived happily during the war, and are now saying (forgive us). This poem leaves us wondering what it would mean to make such a confession, to ask for forgiveness, and whether it’d do any good.Ilya Kaminsky was born in Odessa, former Soviet Union in 1977, and arrived in the United States in 1993, when his family was granted asylum by the American government. He is the author of Deaf Republic and Dancing In Odessa, and has co-edited and co-translated many other books, including Ecco Anthology of International Poetry and Dark Elderberry Branch: Poems of Marina Tsvetaeva. He holds the Bourne Chair in Poetry at Georgia Institute of Technology and lives in Atlanta.Find the transcript for this show at onbeing.org.

Margaret Noodin, poet and author, discusses the story behind her poem, Anishinaabemowin language, translation challenges, language preservation, and the cultural significance of words like Gichigami and Gido. She explores the concept of translation and connection in poetry, the importance of indigenous languages in expressing feelings and thoughts, and the challenges of teaching different dialects. Margaret reflects on the musicality of Ojibwe and Irish languages and their influence on storytelling.