Interesting People Reading Poetry

Latest Episodes:

Biblical Translator Robert Alter Reads the Song of Songs Aug 13, 2019

Show notes

In this episode, Robert Alter reads from his translation of the Song of Songs. Alter is a literary critic and translator based at the University of California, Berkeley. In 2018, he published a landmark, one-man translation of the entire Hebrew Bible – the culmination of over two decades of scholarship.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/30aHgozRmfI887FcizwpPe

The Song of Songs – sometimes referred to as the Song of Solomon – is a book of the Hebrew Bible, typically dated to the 4th century BCE.

The Song of Songs, 4:8 – 5:1, translated by Robert Alter, appears in The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary published W.W. Norton & Company.

We feature one short listener contribution at the end of every episode. To submit, call the Haiku Hotline at 612-440-0643 and read something after the beep. For the occasional prompt, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Dig the music in this episode? Check out Of Modern Poetry by Andy Stermer – an album of ambient music initially composed for the podcast. All proceeds support the continued production of this show.

Subscribe on RadioPublic, iTunes, Spotify, or Stitcher.

Painter Enrique Martínez Celaya Reads Miguel Hernández Jun 11, 2019

Show notes

In this episode, Enrique Martínez Celaya reads “Elegy for Ramón Sijé” by Miguel Hernández. Martínez Celaya is a world-renowned painter, sculptor, and the author of On Art & Mindfulness, among other books. He lives and works in Los Angeles.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/65qUKBK1KAGjRdvaL1f57r

Miguel Hernández (1910-1942) was an early 20th-century Spanish poet. The elegy featured in this episode was written after the death of his close friend and mentor, Ramón Sijé, in 1935.

The score heard throughout this episode was created using samples from a musical setting of the poem by Spanish singer-songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat.

“Elegy for Ramón Sijé” by Miguel Hernández, translated by Edwin Honig, appears in the book The Unending Lightning, published by Sheep Meadow Press.

Keep up with Enrique Martínez Celaya on Facebook and www.martinezcelaya.com.

Dig the music in this episode? Check out Of Modern Poetry by Andy Stermer – an album of ambient music initially composed for the podcast. All proceeds support the continued production of this show.

Subscribe on RadioPublic, iTunes, Spotify, or Stitcher.

Composer Libby Larsen Reads Bill Holm Apr 08, 2019

Show notes

In this episode, composer Libby Larsen reads “Wolf Song in Los Angeles” by Bill Holm. Larsen is one of the most prolific and most performed living American composers. Bill Holm (1943 – 2009) was a poet and essayist who lived in western Minnesota. Throughout the episode, you’ll hear excerpts from Larsen’s musical setting of “Wolf Song in Los Angeles” – performed by Clara Osowski, with piano accompaniment by Casey Rafn.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/32LlR9vb2Whu50UlOZg0uw

“Wolf Song in Los Angeles” by Bill Holm appears in the collection The Dead Get by With Everything, published by Milkweed Editions.

Keep up with Libby Larsen on Facebook and libbylarsen.com.

Keep up with Clara Osowski on Twitter, Facebook, and claraosowski.com.

We feature one short listener poem at the end of every episode. To submit, call the Haiku Hotline at 612-440-0643 and read your poem after the beep. For the occasional prompt, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Subscribe on RadioPublic, iTunes, Spotify, or Stitcher.

Journalist Krista Tippett Reads Rainer Maria Rilke Feb 12, 2019

Show notes

In this episode, On Being Project founder and CEO Krista Tippett reads “God speaks to each of us as he makes us” by Rainer Maria Rilke. She shares how the poem gave her courage and resolve during the creation of her public radio show, Speaking of Faith, in 2003. In the years since, Speaking of Faith has grown and evolved into The On Being Project, a media and public life initiative exploring the intersection of spiritual inquiry, science, social healing, community, poetry, and the arts. Tippett’s latest book is Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1jLP4RyfT7fL5xdAdWnQpj

“God speaks to each of us as he makes us” by Rainer Maria Rilke appears in the collection Rilke’s Book of Hours: Love Poems to God, translated by Anita Barrows and Joanna Macy, and published by Riverhead Books.

Keep up with Krista Tippett on Twitter and onbeing.org.

Dig the music in this episode? Check out Of Modern Poetry by Andy Stermer – an album of ambient music initially composed for the podcast. All proceeds support the continued production of this show.

Subscribe on RadioPublic, iTunes, Spotify, or Stitcher.

U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar Reads Warsan Shire Jan 14, 2019

Show notes

In this episode, U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar reads “Conversations about home (at the deportation centre)” by Warsan Shire and reflects on the many meanings of home. On November 6, 2018, Omar became the first Somali American, and one of the first two Muslim women elected to U.S. Congress. She represents Minnesota’s 5th congressional district. This interview was recorded in 2017, when Omar was still serving in the Minnesota State House of Representatives.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3hmD8drOOgB9Y5By1QcZVi

“Conversations about home (at the deportation centre),” by Warsan Shire, appears in the pamphlet, Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth, from Flipped Eye Publishing.

Keep up with Ilhan Omar on Twitter, Facebook, and ilhanomar.com.

As always, the Haiku Hotline (612-440-0643) is open for your short poems and poetic musings.

Dig the music in this episode? Check out Of Modern Poetry by Andy Stermer – an album of ambient music initially composed for the podcast. All proceeds support the continued production of this show.

Subscribe on RadioPublic, iTunes, Spotify, or Stitcher.

Entomologist Marla Spivak Reads Rumi Oct 23, 2018

Show notes

In this episode, entomologist Dr. Marla Spivak reads “When Grapes Turn to Wine” by Rumi and discusses how Rumi can teach us to “think like bee.” Dr. Spivak is a MacArthur “genius” Fellow known for her groundbreaking research on bee behavior and biology.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2xyntSd8WxczMfrBoaPgfP

“When Grapes Turn to Wine” by Rumi, translated by Robert Bly, appears in the book If Bees Are Few: A Hive of Bee Poems, published by University of Minnesota Press. A portion of all proceeds from the book are donated to support research at the University of Minnesota Bee Lab.

We feature one listener haiku at the end of every episode. To submit, call the Haiku Hotline at 612-440-0643 and read your poem after the beep. For the occasional prompt, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Subscribe on RadioPublic, iTunes, Spotify, or Stitcher.

Playwright Harrison David Rivers Reads Essex Hemphill Jul 24, 2018

Show notes

In this episode, playwright Harrison David Rivers reads “For My Own Protection” by Essex Hemphill and discusses the use of the poem in his recent play, This Bitter Earth. Rivers is the recipient of fellowships from the McKnight and Jerome Foundations and is a core writer at the Playwright’s Center.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1prSuXPitknNPj26IItVnr

“For My Own Protection” by Essex Hemphill appears in the collection Ceremonies, published by Plume.

Keep up with Harrison David Rivers at harrisondavidrivers.com

Subscribe on RadioPublic, iTunes, Spotify, or Stitcher.

Writer Chris Kraus Reads Steve Levine Jun 18, 2018

Show notes

In this episode, writer Chris Kraus reads “Miserable Life” by Steve Levine and discusses how New York School poetry influenced the development of her distinctive style. Kraus is the author of I Love Dick (now an Amazon Original Series) and, most recently, After Kathy Acker.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Iz5hjra5tUmof9lteqMIz

Keep up with Chris Kraus’ latest releases at Semiotext(e).

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or RadioPublic.

Chef Amy Thielen Reads Jim Harrison May 21, 2018

Show notes

In this episode, Amy Thielen reads “Death Again” by Jim Harrison and explores the relationship between great food and great literature. Amy Thielen is a chef and two-time James Beard Award-winning writer. She’s the author of The New Midwestern Table (a cookbook) and Give a Girl a Knife (a memoir). She’s also the host of Heartland Table on Food Network.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1yNSSk9sPxW4c5cRPJoCD2

“Death Again” by Jim Harrison appears in Songs of Unreason, published by Copper Canyon Press.

Keep up with Amy Thielen on Twitter, Facebook, and at amythielen.com.

Subscribe on RadioPublic, iTunes, Spotify, or Stitcher.

DJ Rekha Reads Audre Lorde Apr 16, 2018

Show notes

In this episode, DJ Rekha reads “A Litany for Survival” by Audre Lorde and discusses dancing as an antidote to fear. DJ Rekha is a producer, curator, and educator based in New York City. Her classic debut album, DJ Rekha presents Basement Bhangra, was released in 2007. Her monthly party, Basement Bhangra, ran from 1997 to the summer of 2017 – making it one of the most influential and longest continuously running parties in NYC history.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1IWAgdMXO7reV6Kqlv7wJ5

“A Litany for Survival” by Audrey Lorde appears in The Black Unicorn, published by W.W. Norton & Company.

Keep up with DJ Rekha on Twitter, Facebook, and at djrekha.com.

Subscribe on RadioPublic, iTunes, Spotify, or Stitcher.

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