

Words by Winter
Alison McGhee
Conversations, reflections, and poems about the passages of life. Because it's rough out there, and we have to help each other through.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 3, 2026 • 9min
Our Other Sister, by Jeffrey Harrison
Send us a textHave any of you ever done something or said something that just...flew out of your mouth, or out of your hand, and changed your or someone else's life forever? I've been haunted by this poem for many years now. Words by Winter: Conversations, reflections, and poems about the passages of life. Because it’s rough out there, and we have to help each other through.Original theme music for our show is by Dylan Perese. Additional music by Kelly Krebs. Artwork by Mark Garry. Today’s poem, Our Other Sister, is by Jeffrey Harrison and is featured here with kind permission of the poet. If you enjoyed it, I encourage you to check out his website.

Jan 20, 2026 • 11min
Questionnaire, with Alison McGhee
Send us a textThe Twin Cities are currently under assault by our federal government. The strength and resolve and steadfast by Twin Citians is an astonishing thing to witness. Words by Winter: Conversations, reflections, and poems about the passages of life. Because it’s rough out there, and we have to help each other through.Original theme music for our show is by Dylan Perese. Additional music by Kelly Krebs. Artwork by Mark Garry. Today's poem, Questionnaire, is by me. For more information about my writing, online workshops, and Poem of the Week, check out my website: alisonmcghee.com.

Jan 6, 2026 • 13min
Claim, with Kasey Jueds
Send us a textHave any of you ever been pulled back from the brink by a person or animal who loved you? I have. Words by Winter: Conversations, reflections, and poems about the passages of life. Because it’s rough out there, and we have to help each other through.Original theme music for our show is by Dylan Perese. Additional music by Kelly Krebs. Artwork by Mark Garry. Today’s poem, Claim, is by Casey Jueds and is featured here with kind permission of the poet. If you enjoyed it, I encourage you to check out more of her work.

Dec 23, 2025 • 7min
Poetry in the public domain, with Sara Teasdale
Send us a textAnyone else find themselves, despite all the goodness and wonder in their life, wanting more? This is when I have to stop, and return to the breath of gratitude. Words by Winter: Conversations, reflections, and poems about the passages of life. Because it’s rough out there, and we have to help each other through.Original theme music for our show is by Dylan Perese. Additional music by Kelly Krebs. Artwork by Mark Garry. Today’s poem, Spring Night, is by Sara Teasdale and is in the public domain.

Dec 9, 2025 • 10min
Cold Solace, with Anna Belle Kaufman
Send us a textWe're back after an unexpected hiatus to take care of a beloved family member. Words by Winter: Conversations, reflections, and poems about the passages of life. Because it’s rough out there, and we have to help each other through.Original theme music for our show is by Dylan Perese. Additional music by Kelly Krebs. Artwork by Mark Garry. Today’s poem, Cold Solace, is by Anna Belle Kaufman. If you enjoyed it, I encourage you to read more of her poems on this website.

Sep 15, 2025 • 12min
Nine-Eleven, with Charlotte Parsons
Send us a textIt's been a long time, friends. Six months, to be precise. But we're back and we intend to keep coming back. Take heart. We're all in this together. Words by Winter: Conversations, reflections, and poems about the passages of life. Because it’s rough out there, and we have to help each other through.Original theme music for our show is by Dylan Perese. Additional music by Kelly Krebs. Artwork by Mark Garry. Today’s poem, Nine-Eleven, is by Charlotte Parsons. Although today's poem has been featured on hundreds of websites I'm unable to find out any information about Charlotte Parsons other than that this poem first appeared on The Writer's Almanac on September 11, 2017. This leads me to suspect that Charlotte Parsons is a pseudonym for someone else. If anyone's in the know, please clue me in.

Mar 11, 2025 • 7min
Poetry in the public domain, with Edward Thomas
Send us a textAnyone else out there haunted by the calls of owls, coyotes, wolves, in the middle of the night? Words by Winter: Conversations, reflections, and poems about the passages of life. Because it’s rough out there, and we have to help each other through.Original theme music for our show is by Dylan Perese. Additional music by Kelly Krebs. Artwork by Mark Garry. Today’s poem, The Owl, is by Edward Thomas and is in the public domain.

Feb 25, 2025 • 10min
Refusal to Mourn, with Andrea Cohen
Send us a textMy dog hides nothing: his love, his pain, his hunger, his tiredness. As a result, he tends to get what he wants and needs. I am not like my dog. Words by Winter: Conversations, reflections, and poems about the passages of life. Because it’s rough out there, and we have to help each other through.Original theme music for our show is by Dylan Perese. Additional music by Kelly Krebs. Artwork by Mark Garry. Today’s poem, Refusal to Mourn, is by Andrea Cohen and is featured here with kind permission of the poet. I encourage you to check out more of her beautiful work.

Feb 11, 2025 • 7min
Poetry in the public domain, with Marion Strobel
Send us a textLittle things. Tiny things. Things to hold gently. Words by Winter: Conversations, reflections, and poems about the passages of life. Because it’s rough out there, and we have to help each other through.Original theme music for our show is by Dylan Perese. Additional music by Kelly Krebs. Artwork by Mark Garry. Today’s poem, Little Things, is by Marion Strobel and is in the public domain.

Jan 28, 2025 • 10min
Jesus at the Gay Bar, with Jay Hulme
Send us a textSo much pain in life, the kind of pain inflicted by humans upon each other because of differing theologies, feels unnecessary to me. Can't we all be who we are?Words by Winter: Conversations, reflections, and poems about the passages of life. Because it’s rough out there, and we have to help each other through.Original theme music for our show is by Dylan Perese. Additional music by Kelly Krebs. Artwork by Mark Garry. Today’s poem, Jesus at the Gay Bar, is by Jay Hulme and is featured here with kind permission of the poet. I encourage you to check out more of his beautiful work.


