Poetry Says
Alice Allan
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Interviews with poets from Australia and sometimes elsewhere, along with other poetry-based musings.
Available episodes
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6 hours ago
224. I can’t dance
Show me your pasodoble! Show notes None other than Matt WallLook at all those chickensElijah’s show VersecraftThe Case for Metre and Rhyme: Part 1 & Part 2Bernadette slams old-school toolsFriend of the show Liam FerneyDropping Leaflets by Jena OsmanTinx explains why we’re dating all wrongImportant meme 4 AnnaRobert BlySLEERICKETS Ep 110: Both Sides Eventually, ft. Alexis SearsLouise Carter’s … Continue reading "224. I can’t dance"
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May 22, 2023
Ep 223. Peter Bakowski: The gleaning process
Plus, the poetry workshop comes to Berghain. Peter BakowskiThe Gleaners and I (2000)Anne SextonRobert FrostSchopenhauer sez: “One should use common words to say uncommon things”Billy CollinsCharles BukowskiFitzroySt KildaPellegrini’sGeoff DyerBrendan RyanPhillip HodginsGeoff PageDorothy PorterAustralia Council for the Arts come at meEp 187. Peak poetryAnthem for a Doomed Youth by Wilfred OwenIn Our Time on Wilfred Owen … Continue reading "Ep 223. Peter Bakowski: The gleaning process"
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May 15, 2023
Ep 222. Grilling Elijah Blumov
I love you, Leigh Sales. Show notes Elijah’s podcast Versecraft Gwen Harwood Harwood’s poem Prize-Giving The Apollonian/Dionysian dichotomy The Case for Metre and Rhyme: Part 1 & Part 2 Intro/outro: 7:30 report closing theme Email me: poetrysayspod[at]gmail.comMore Elijah, more arguing: SLEERICKETS
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May 8, 2023
Ep 221. pi o and Collective Effort
“Anarchists have to write their own history.” Show notes The WAYWARD FORWARD exhibition Collective Effort Press Π.O.’s books include 24 Hours, Fitzroy: the biography & Heide Sandy Caldow Peter Murphy Victoria Perin Jas Duke Thalia Fitzrot 925 The Third World Bookshop The Source and Whole Earth Bookstore Readings Robert Rooney Nicholas Zurbrugg Off the Record … Continue reading "Ep 221. pi o and Collective Effort"
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May 1, 2023
Ep 220. Mostly horizontal
Convalescence correspondence. Show notes Causeway (2022) Ep 215. The collapsing building Ep 219. This is scripture Liam Ferney’s article ‘I wrote this one and I know it ain’t great’: The Disruptive Poetry of Songwriting Lucinda Williams’ article on Frank Stanford Ep 42. Alan Wearne on Frank Stanford Sarah Holland-Batt’s books Aria & The Jaguar Ep … Continue reading "Ep 220. Mostly horizontal"
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Apr 17, 2023
Ep 219. This is scripture
Matthew Buckley Smith returns to talk about The Mountain Goats. Show notes Playlist for this episode The Last Waltz (1978) New Yorker interview: John Darnielle Wants to Tell You a Story Wolf in White Van Universal Harvester Matthew’s show SLEERICKETS
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Apr 10, 2023
Ep 218. Maggie Ball on poetry competitions
It’s just like the Oscars! Maggie Ball’s books include her new collection BobishPuncher & WattmannThe Compulsive ReaderModPoI Love Poetry by Michael FarrellTender Buttons by Gertrude SteinGreen Light by Kenneth FearingAnupama PilbrowMoon Wrasse by Willo DrummondEp 198. with Felicity PlunkettLike To The Lark by Stuart BarnesThe Montreal International Poetry PrizeThe Newcastle Poetry PrizeHunter Writers CentreJill JonesTW … Continue reading "Ep 218. Maggie Ball on poetry competitions"
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Apr 3, 2023
Ep 217. To know is not to cure
I’ve got 500 in twenties… Show notes The Swimmer by John Cheever The Trip to Echo Spring by Olivia Lange City Middle by The National Voss by Patrick White Gerard Manley Hopkins To A Lady Seen For A Few Moments At Vauxhall by John Keats I Thought You Were a Poet by Joshua Mehigan If … Continue reading "Ep 217. To know is not to cure"
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Mar 27, 2023
Ep 216. Mindy Gill: Seeing multiplicities
“What is the thing that is blocking the person from engaging with the work itself?” Show notes Mindy Gill’s article Till ‘real voices’ wake us, and we drown: The mire of identity politics Sarah Holland-Batt That conversation about Audre Lorde is on SLEERICKETS The Sweatshop anthology Racism and Mindy’s review Jaya Savige The Boat by … Continue reading "Ep 216. Mindy Gill: Seeing multiplicities"
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Mar 20, 2023
Ep 215. The collapsing building
I heart Canberra. For anyone who ever hung out at Impact without ever buying anything, caught the 333 to Civic instead of going to school, met a friend at the Goon Bag, kissed someone in the Woden bus interchange, drove up Mount Ainslie on a Saturday night, rode a shopping trolley down the Dickson stormwater … Continue reading "Ep 215. The collapsing building"
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Mar 13, 2023
Ep 214. Stephen Edgar, man on the moon
“I just persisted.” Show notes Stephen Edgar Where the Trees Were Lost in the Foreground Stephen’s new and selected The Strangest Place won the 2021 PM’s literary award for poetry Joshua Mehigan 18 Poems by Dylan Thomas Once again, A. D. Hope Gwen Harwood Clive James Phillip Hodgins Anthony Hecht Quadrant (wow.) Stephen’s poems Man … Continue reading "Ep 214. Stephen Edgar, man on the moon"
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Mar 6, 2023
Ep 213. Hot and bothered
“Ana is an inexperienced college student tasked with interviewing enigmatic billionaire Christian Grey…” Show notes Look at all these straightforward interviews you could listen to! In Our Time, John Donne SLEERICKETS The one about fury The Close Readings podcast Just the romance section of Mills & Boon Various Sappho 130s Holy Sonnet 14 by Donne … Continue reading "Ep 213. Hot and bothered"
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Feb 27, 2023
Ep 212. Paul Kane: The view from the volcano
A different take on the Aussie renaissance. Paul Kane’s book Australian Poetry: Romanticism and Negativity Judith Wright Gwen Harwood Paul is awarded the Order of Australia A. D. Hope Les Murray John Kinsella Ali Alizadeh interviews Paul Kane Phillip Hodgins Martin Duwell reviews Paul Kane’s A Slant of Light Richard Howard Elizabeth Bishop Mark Strand … Continue reading "Ep 212. Paul Kane: The view from the volcano"
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Feb 20, 2023
Ep 211. The gaps I mean
Emails! Fame, errors, legacy, glamour. Once again, The Lyre in the Pawnshop by Fay Zwicky Jan Zwicky You Must Believe in Spring by Bill Evans Antilamentation by Dorianne Laux Ken Bolton Ep 209. Funny ha ha Robert Adamson’s poems for Joanne Kyger The New American Poetry edited by Donald Allen (imagine if it was edited … Continue reading "Ep 211. The gaps I mean"
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Feb 13, 2023
Ep 210. Barron Field has entered the chat
Come on, boffins! …show notes?! The Barron Field Experience is Justin Clemens, Adam Bartlett & Bryan Cooke Plato loves the drama Justin Clemens’ new book A Foul Wind Michel de Certeau John Forbes, one-liner queen Francis Bacon’s idea of The Great Instauration Poetry readings Forms of rot The State Perpetual reform Tech bros The new Tesla … Continue reading "Ep 210. Barron Field has entered the chat"
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Feb 6, 2023
Ep 209. Funny ha ha
“And who are you here with tonight?” Show notes SLEERICKETS Horace chatJudith Lucy vs MenClose Readings Live: The Waste LandThe JindyworobaksA Midsummer Noon in the Australian Forest by Charles HarpurNews of the Sun by Rex IngamellsYarra Cottage Books in WarrandyteA D HopeThe Malley HoaxTerra Australis by James McAuleyIn The Park by Gwen HarwoodMunicipal Gum by … Continue reading "Ep 209. Funny ha ha"
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Jan 30, 2023
Ep 208. Lucy Dougan: Hedge school
Wagging with the Westralians. Show notes Lucy Dougan’s books Monster Field, The Guardians & White ClayGiramondo Publishing Andrea ArnoldWasp (2003)Fish Tank (2009)American Honey (2016)Wuthering Heights (2011)Spawn (1997)Barbara PymFay ZwickyCrawling Across Tram Tracks: Extracts from Volumes 5 & 6 of Fay Zwicky’s Journal‘I Am a Chthonic Poet’: Fay Zwicky and the Writing under the Writing by … Continue reading "Ep 208. Lucy Dougan: Hedge school"
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Jan 23, 2023
Ep 207. Ask Me Anything
Hang on, I’m telling a story. To recap: I like Philip’s poems All hail Queen Joan Do not sign up for Letterboxd under any circumstances Yes I watched Showgirls (1995) You Don’t Nomi (2019) is pretty good Jan Zwicky’s Lyric Philosophy sounds like a smart book I’ve never read any Robert Bly I mispronounced Tomas … Continue reading "Ep 207. Ask Me Anything"
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Jan 16, 2023
Ep 206. Small magic
Rabbit, where’d you put the keys, girl? Show notes Ask me anything! poetrysayspod[at]gmail.com A Primer of English Versification by James McAuley Joshua Mehigan The White Lotus theme song Mascara Literary Review To the Bramble and the Briar: Poems by Steve Scafidi Ep 197. on Fury The Jaguar by Sarah Holland-Batt Jan Zwicky The Lyre in … Continue reading "Ep 206. Small magic"
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Dec 19, 2022
Ep 205. Winnie Dunn: The realities of Australia
“It seemed like such a far-fetched notion that I could make something of myself as an artist…” Show notes Ask me anything! poetrysayspod[at]gmail.com Good poetry podcasts Versecraft and Close Readings (and SLEERICKETS, of course) Sweatshop Literacy Movement Another Australia edited by Winnie Dunn (Affirm Press, 2022) L-FRESH the Lion Dr Michael Mohammed Ahmad The Mother … Continue reading "Ep 205. Winnie Dunn: The realities of Australia"
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Dec 12, 2022
Ep 204. Being bad
“I’m young and strong and nothing can touch me!” Show notes Berryman by W. S. Merwin Ep 202. Who makes the poem? What Pragmatism Means by William James Matt interviews Matthew Freckles on the Face of California by Halsey Trash, Art and the Movies by Pauline Kael The Only Living Boy in New York (2017) Dark … Continue reading "Ep 204. Being bad"
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Dec 5, 2022
Ep 203. Sarah Holland-Batt: The poems themselves
Skepticism, change, and poems from Long Bay Gaol. Show notes Sarah Holland-Batt’s collections The Jaguar, The Hazards & Aria Fishing for Lightning Michael Massey Robinson My episode about poet laureates Australians all, let us read verse by Sarah Holland-Batt Les Murray Floral Tribute by Simon Armitage Black Inc.s’ Best Australian Poems The Royal Commission into Aged … Continue reading "Ep 203. Sarah Holland-Batt: The poems themselves"
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Nov 28, 2022
Ep 202. Who makes the poem?
And who really pulled the trigger on JFK? Hey, come see me at Lit Balm this weekend (5pm Saturday US East Coast time/9am Sunday Australian East Coast time). K Post Malone Migos Al Filreis Joshua Mehigan Sociological institutionalism Toscanini Whiplash Aidan Coleman in my ep on John Forbes Bean Spasms by Ted Berrigan Billy Collins … Continue reading "Ep 202. Who makes the poem?"
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Nov 14, 2022
Ep 201. Haunted house of poetry
I need to go water my plant now. Starter episodes: Tracy Ryan, Antonia Pont, Peak Poetry, Thuy On Sister podcast SLEERICKETS Ep 81: The Eliza Effect, ft. Carmine Starnino Googlecholia by Michael Farrell Vincent Buckley Brunswick Secondhand Books I’m So Fine: A List of Famous Men & What I Had On by Khadija Queen Walter … Continue reading "Ep 201. Haunted house of poetry"
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Nov 7, 2022
Ep 200. Anti-insights
Friday arvo in the park. Show notes A Walk in Kensington Gardens by Dorothy Porter Silent co-producer K Elizabeth Morgan House Antonia Pont Dorothy Porter’s The Bee Hut Ep 179. Solace & Trash Cary Tennis: All the practice you get makes you better David Ireland Brendan Casey & the Melbourne School of Continental Philosophy Bruce … Continue reading "Ep 200. Anti-insights"
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Oct 31, 2022
Ep 199. Answered prayers
“More tears are shed over answered prayers than unanswered ones.” Show notes The Monthly’s culture issue Strength to strength by Alison Croggan The ideal reader by Gerald Murnane Australians all, let us read verse by Sarah Holland-Batt Les Murray Les Murray in conversation at UTS Kenneth Slessor Ep 42. with Alan Wearne Burton Raffel Horace’s … Continue reading "Ep 199. Answered prayers"
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Oct 24, 2022
Ep 198. Felicity Plunkett on the poetry editor’s invisible work
Gatekeepers, puff pieces, labour and care. Show notes If I Had a Gun by Gig RyanFelicity Plunkett’s books Vanishing Point & A Kinder SeaEp. 196 with James JiangUniversity of Queensland PressDavid MaloufNathan ShepherdsonThe Lost Arabs by Omar SakrExactly As I Am by Rae WhiteEp 170. with Kent MacCarterStuart BarnesBeatrice Deloitte DavisJessica WilkinsonPoetry on the Move … Continue reading "Ep 198. Felicity Plunkett on the poetry editor’s invisible work"
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Oct 17, 2022
Ep 197. Fury
A completely normal, acceptable human emotion. Show notes Gena Rowlands in A Woman Under the InfluencePoems That Make Grown Women CryThe Poetry PharmacyDo not go gentle into that good night by Dylan ThomasJennifer ComptonSLEERICKETS Ep 7: My love is like a red, red grawlixTo Whoever Set My Truck on Fire by Steve ScafidiCanto IX from … Continue reading "Ep 197. Fury"
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Oct 10, 2022
Ep 196. James Jiang: A certain claustrophobia
‘There’s something fraught about even the most informal encounters…’ Show notes James Jiang’s article in the ABR: Blurb Praise and Hot TakesGareth Morgan’s review of Petra White’s CitiesBen Etherington’s article The Poet TastersEp 148. with Loki LiddleThe inimitable Martin DuwellEp 78. with Lisa GortonFostered alike by beauty and by fear (Wordsworth)Art historian Charles HarrisonThe Lyre … Continue reading "Ep 196. James Jiang: A certain claustrophobia"
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Oct 3, 2022
Ep 195. Harry Reid: Poetry rocks
What is a ratbag? Show notes Harry Reid’s full-length collection Leave Me Alone & chapbook the best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friendsick leave, co-directed by Harry, Gareth Morgan & Ursula Robinson-ShawMatthew’s introDropbear by Evelyn AraluenBlakwork by Alison WhittakerMelody PalomaBella LiRATBAG editorial by Duncan HoseJohn Forbes & my month with … Continue reading "Ep 195. Harry Reid: Poetry rocks"
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Sep 26, 2022
Ep 194. Learning to read
Shock: I was (and am) a teacher’s pet. Show notes Recorded on the 10-year anniversary of ModPo, which is taught by Al Filreis & his team.Delmore SchwartzKenneth Koch: ‘I Like Writing’ by Bill ZavatskyA Momentary Longing to Hear Sad Advice from One Long Dead by Kenneth KochPogoAlso if you want to watch over two hours … Continue reading "Ep 194. Learning to read"
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Sep 19, 2022
Ep 193. Prize fight
Eleanor & I get all judgey. Show notes Eleanor’s Forward Prize reviewsScattered Snows to the North by Carl PhillipsI’m Shouting I LOVED YOUR DAD at my Brother’s Cat by Cecelia KnappPollen by Clare PollardDog on a British Airways Airbus 319-100 by Louisa CampbellUp Late by Nick LairdEvelyn Araluen’s Stella Prize acceptance speechJacques RoubaudOutro: DJ Kal … Continue reading "Ep 193. Prize fight"
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Sep 12, 2022
Ep 192. Erik Jensen: Intimacy and trespass
“The space I felt between me and the world I was always filling with journalism. Poetry utterly collapsed that space.” Show notes Erik Jensen Acute Misfortune (Black Inc. 2014) and the film I said the sea was folded (Black Inc. 2021) On Kate Jennings: Writers on Writers by Erik Jensen (Black Inc. 2017) The Saturday … Continue reading "Ep 192. Erik Jensen: Intimacy and trespass"
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Aug 31, 2022
Ep 191. John Forbes, a Pastoral pt. 2
‘…& said quietly, ‘Sir, sir’ / & heroin let him leave the room.’ With thanks to Ken, Lou, Alan, Ben, Aidan, K, Cameron, Liam, Matthew & Eleanor. Speed, a Pastoral by John Forbes Ken Bolton The Poetry of John Forbes by Ken Bolton That interview with David Brooks John Keats Ode to a Nightingale Gustave … Continue reading "Ep 191. John Forbes, a Pastoral pt. 2"
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Aug 29, 2022
Ep 190. John Forbes, a Pastoral pt. 1
‘it’s fun to take speed / & stay up all night…’ With thanks to Eleanor, Lou & Liam. Show notes the sealey challenge Red Room’s Poetry Month John Forbes Speed, a Pastoral Carlton Gardens Poetry Foundation’s definition of the pastoral Evelyn Araluen’s Dropbear Towards a Contemporary Australian Poetics by John Kinsella “A land of sweeping … Continue reading "Ep 190. John Forbes, a Pastoral pt. 1"
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Aug 22, 2022
Ep 189. Tracy Ryan: Infinite pie
“I don’t believe rules are absolute.” Show notes Tracy Ryan’s books include Scar Revision, Rose Interior & The Argument Judith Wright Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar Deschooling Society by Ivan Illich Prisoner Towards a Contemporary Australian Poetics by John Kinsella Jennifer Strauss Barn Owl by Gwen Harwood Self Publishing by Ouyang Yu The Rose Interior … Continue reading "Ep 189. Tracy Ryan: Infinite pie"
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Aug 15, 2022
Ep 188. Ursula Robinson-Shaw: Beast Mode
Contains adult themes. Show notes Ursula Robinson-Shaw’s chapbooks Noonday and YEARN MALLEY sick leave Dissociating the Novel (review of New Animal by Ella Baxter) Where Do We Go From Nowhere? (review of Nostalgia Has Ruined My Life by Zarah Butcher-McGunnigle) Fleabag Nanette Maggie Nelson’s The Argonauts On Heteropessimism by Asa Seresin Mike Crumplar The Garret … Continue reading "Ep 188. Ursula Robinson-Shaw: Beast Mode"
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Aug 8, 2022
Ep 187. Peak poetry
The black swan of trespass is coming for us all. Show notes Missy Elliott’s Under Construction Peak oil The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb Margot Robbie in The Big Short Decoder Ring: The Most Famous Poet No One Remembers Ep 166. Rachael Nielsen on Instapoets Ep 134. Justin Clemens on Amanda Gorman and many … Continue reading "Ep 187. Peak poetry"
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Aug 1, 2022
Ep 186. Sensitive New Right Guy
Is poetry ever propaganda? Show notes “And I have always felt sorry for people who didn’t grow up next to an ocean, who couldn’t find a similar kind of privacy, the privacy of this interval.” — Lucy Van, The Open Ep 181. Midwinter Day Joshua Mehigan Matthew makes the podcast Sleerickets (it’s very good) Ep … Continue reading "Ep 186. Sensitive New Right Guy"
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Jul 25, 2022
Ep 185. Big sad poetry friendship
Or, When Robert met Lizzy. (With yet more thanks to K.) Show notes Words in Air: The Complete Correspondence Between Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell edited by Thomas Travisano with Saskia Hamilton Randall Jarrell At the Fishhouses by Elizabeth Bishop Skunk Hour by Robert Lowell The Armadillo by Elizabeth Bishop Turning Pain Into Art by … Continue reading "Ep 185. Big sad poetry friendship"
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Jul 18, 2022
Ep 184. Gareth Morgan: Vagabond
“We live in such a strange world. It’s weird to create monuments to it.” Gareth Morgan’s books Dear Eileen and When a Punk Becomes a Spunk sick leave Melbourne School of Continental Philosophy Dan Tout’s article Neither Nationalists nor Universalists: Rex Ingamells and the Jindyworobaks Obscurity in Poetry — A Spectrum by Geoff Page The … Continue reading "Ep 184. Gareth Morgan: Vagabond"
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Jul 11, 2022
Ep 183. Poets on film (a tragedy)
“You must be a poet. You talk funny.” When I’m among a Blaze of Lights by Siegfried Sassoon Master of Crying Terence Davies The Veleta (which I only do when pressed) The rogerebert.com review of Benediction SMH review: Terence Davies calls Benediction his best movie. I beg to differ (I did not mention this earlier. … Continue reading "Ep 183. Poets on film (a tragedy)"
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Jul 4, 2022
Ep 182. Nicholas Powell on taking cheeky seriously
On tour in Australia from Finland, Nicholas Powell walks me through his new book, Trap Landscape. Joan Fleming’s launch Reagan Sova’s book trailer Ep 42. with Alan Wearne on Frank Stanford SLEERICKETS Ep 60: Too Many Manifestos My appearance on The Imposter Syndrome Club podcast Rae Armantrout’s poem Our Days Archives Fine Books Ep 155. … Continue reading "Ep 182. Nicholas Powell on taking cheeky seriously"
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Jun 27, 2022
Ep 181. Midwinter Day
Recorded on Tuesday June 21, 2022. (More on that.) Show notes Bernadette Mayer Midwinter Day Mayer, Al & the gang talking about 19th century high school poetry Mayer’s writing experiments Commonplace Episode 15: Bernadette Mayer Ted Berrigan Alice Notley Exceptionally entertaining poetry podcast SLEERICKETS now has cool t-shirts (and a secret show)
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Jun 20, 2022
Ep 180. Lucy Van on privacy, prizes, truth, and tennis
No really. Why do we live here? Show notes Lucy’s collection The Open Gareth Morgan’s review Shitheads: well are we doing this? Lucy’s interview for the NGV’s Triennial Voices Bella Li George Mouratidis Ocean Vuong Ep 174. Eleanor vs. The Ocean Vuong Phenomenon Figures, Lucy’s project with Laila Sakini The Third Thing by Donald Hall … Continue reading "Ep 180. Lucy Van on privacy, prizes, truth, and tennis"
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Jun 13, 2022
Ep 179. Solace and trash
Leave poetry alone! Show notes John Berryman Dream Song 14 & Berryman’s reading in Dublin in 1967 Olivia Laing’s The Trip to Echo Spring Poetry Unbound The Slowdown The Poetry Society Windows by Louise Carter Ep 122. Antonia Pont: Pessimism is very imprecise Olio by Tyehimba Jess Dream Song 36 & Berryman’s reading (less drunk?)
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May 30, 2022
Ep 178. Why do poetry journals keep rejecting me?
Kate Middleton returns to talk about her role as Island’s poetry editor. Plus, some unsolicited advice. Show notes Iowa Writers’ Workshop Fiona Wright The Gwen Harwood Poetry Prize Toby Fitch Owen Barfield Linda Gregerson Journals! Meanjin, Overland, Rabbit, Australian Book Review SLEERICKETS Ep. 14: M*****F***** of the Arts Robert Lowell on seals (honestly v. cool … Continue reading "Ep 178. Why do poetry journals keep rejecting me?"
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May 23, 2022
Ep 177. Kate Middleton on the death of Luke Perry
90210. Dickens. Buffy. Henry James. Show notes Kate Middleton’s books Fire Season, Ephemeral Waters & Passage A poem from Television Luke Perry ‘Mentrification’: how men appropriated computers, beer and the Beatles by Van Badham Ann Friedman and Aminatou Sow’s podcast Call Your Girlfriend Scott Speedman Sarah Manguso Poets on Teaching by Joshua Marie Wilkinson Hoa … Continue reading "Ep 177. Kate Middleton on the death of Luke Perry"
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May 16, 2022
Ep 176. Autumn Royal on the inescapable
Autumn Royal on writing poems in Roxby Downs, sessional teaching from a hot desk, appearing suss at art galleries, reality eclipsing her first book, and “grittiness”. Show notes Snake Story by Dorothy Porter Autumn’s collection She Woke & Rose Bernadette Mayer’s The Tragic Condition of the Statue of Liberty Lacan on Death Lindsay Tuggle’s Calenture … Continue reading "Ep 176. Autumn Royal on the inescapable"
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May 9, 2022
Ep 175. Pam Brown returns
Pam Brown is back to talk new work, readings, myths, prize culture & the NBN. Show notes Stasis Shuffle Collected Works bookshop Ep 104. with Pam Sappho’s Ken Bolton Amelia Dale A.J. Carruthers Michael Farrell reads at Readings Laurie Duggan Pam’s review of Sydney Spleen by Toby Fitch The Jindyworobak Movement Let’s Get Lost by … Continue reading "Ep 175. Pam Brown returns"
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May 2, 2022
Ep 174. Eleanor vs. the Ocean Vuong Phenomenon
Beware the Alley of Prosody. Show notes Ep 150. Nerding out with Eleanor BookTube Ocean Vuong’s Time is a Mother Warsan Shire’s Bless the Daughter Raised by a Voice in Her Head Popular musician Beyoncé Emily Berry’s Unexhausted Time Exceptional song Love Again by Dua Lipa Thin Air by Linda Gregerson Outro: Happy Cat Disco … Continue reading "Ep 174. Eleanor vs. the Ocean Vuong Phenomenon"
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Apr 25, 2022
Ep 173. Follow the money
Following on from last week, David Latham from fund the arts shares some hair-curling statistics about arts funding as it stands in the lead-up to the federal election. If you want to know more about the campaign, you can find them on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook. Show notes The Creativity in Crisis report Ben Eltham … Continue reading "Ep 173. Follow the money"
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Apr 18, 2022
Ep 172. The Wizards of OzCo
Unfortunately, your application was not successful on this occasion. Ep 170. with Kent MacCarter 2014 is a rich and radical time in Australian poetry by Bonny Cassidy Profit is rare, but poetry’s weird blooms persist by Bonny Cassidy Australia Council for the Arts The Stella Prize A message from the Australia Council CEO Can Australian … Continue reading "Ep 172. The Wizards of OzCo"
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Apr 4, 2022
Ep 171. People you’ve never heard of
In/significance in poetry. Show notes I Was Minor by Olena Kalytiak Davis and her interview on the Commonplace podcast Poem by Weldon Kees The Disappearing Poet by Anthony Lane Open Yale Courses ENGL 220: Milton – Lecture 3 Milton’s Ad Patrem George Green’s Summer of ’72
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Mar 28, 2022
Ep 170. Kent MacCarter: The publisher’s Kuiper Belt
The managing editor of Cordite on acceptances, rejections, guest editors, money, book making and risk. Show notes Cordite Books, which has published poets including Jeanine Leane, John Mukky Burke, Alison Flett, Kim Cheng Boey, Tony Birch, Charmaine Papertalk Green, Omar Sakr & Lucy Van They will oxidise before you even finish reading, Kent’s piece for … Continue reading "Ep 170. Kent MacCarter: The publisher’s Kuiper Belt"
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Mar 21, 2022
Ep 169. No one missed poetry readings
Hey Jane. Get me offa this crazy thing. Show notes So I Married An Axe Murderer (1993) Woman! Woman! (breakup) Harriet! Allen Ginsberg reads America Jack Kerouac reads American Haikus Episodes 150 & 101
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Mar 14, 2022
Ep 168. Cassandra Atherton: On finding your people
Cassandra Atherton is extremely patient with my prose poetry skepticism. Show notes The Ordinary and the Unreal by Cassandra Atherton and Paul Hetherington. (Eliot: ‘Both verse and prose still conceal unexplored possibilities, but whatever one writes must be definitely and by inner necessity either one or the other.’) The Anthology of Australian Prose Poetry (Melbourne … Continue reading "Ep 168. Cassandra Atherton: On finding your people"
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Mar 7, 2022
Ep 167. Just like Scorsese
Drawing lines and immediately walking over them. Show notes Scorsese on Marvel Movies Why do crickets chirp? Ep 163. with K Boys for Pele (1996) The Holiday (2006) Roderick on the Line (forever) Ep 118. with Alison Whittaker Alison’s review of Sarah Maddison SLEERICKETS Ep 45 Loma AKA Christopher Soto’s poem All The Dead Boys … Continue reading "Ep 167. Just like Scorsese"
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Feb 28, 2022
Ep 166. Rachael Nielsen: “Quote unquote real poetry.”
Clutching my pearls over Instapoetry with Rachael Nielsen. (Write to me! poetrysayspod@gmail.com) Show notes Rabbit issue 24 Emma Watson Interviews Rupi Kaur for Our Shared Shelf Lora Mathis Instagram Poetry for Every Day Segovia Amil Katy Waldman: “…there has to be a better way to lift up people with problems than to declare that problems … Continue reading "Ep 166. Rachael Nielsen: “Quote unquote real poetry.”"
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Feb 21, 2022
Ep 165. “This is why people hate poetry!”
Please give the academics more wine. Show notes T.S. Eliot: The Search for Happiness (2019) Death in Venice by Thomas Mann The Politics and Play of Terrance Hayes by Dan Chiasson High Windows by Philip Larkin No worst, there is none. Pitched past pitch of grief. by Gerard Manley Hopkins I always put my pussy… … Continue reading "Ep 165. “This is why people hate poetry!”"
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Feb 14, 2022
Ep 164. Thabani Tshuma: “It’s just gonna work out.”
Extremely reasonable and talented human being Thabani Tshuma talks me off various ledges. Show notes The Melba Speigeltent The Melbourne Spoken Word Prize Thabani’s poems Put It In Writing and No Strings La Mama Theatre The Thin Red Lines poetry event series Roger Selazny’s The Doors of His Face, The Lamps of His Mouth Wanda … Continue reading "Ep 164. Thabani Tshuma: “It’s just gonna work out.”"
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Feb 7, 2022
Ep 163. A map, a memory, a seal
K & I walk the Yarra River while tracking Nam Le’s post-lockdown poem Abbotsford I. Show notes Nam on Wikipedia An interview with Nam for Wyoming PBS Nam’s poems Elegies in Poetry Magazine and Collingwood published by The Diasporic Vietnamese Artists Network Crossing Brooklyn Ferry by Walt Whitman Salvatore the seal
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Jan 31, 2022
Ep 162. Rilke vs. Mondays
“To wake up and be like the weather to be no longer the broken hearted servants of mad kings.” Show notes Robert Montgomery The Great Resignation/Hidden Resignation Ep 147. with Dan Hogan Letters to a Young Poet & Rilke’s writing advice Carl Skoggard’s translation of Archaic Torso of Apollo The Grass Library & Ep 106. … Continue reading "Ep 162. Rilke vs. Mondays"
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Jan 17, 2022
Ep 161. A deadly sin
“Who on earth would sing, if song were merely an effortless warbling until kingdom come?” Show notes Vagabond’s new work campaign Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way Everything you need to know about Rachel Hollis Ep 158 with Matthew Buckley Smith Sleerickets Ep 39 Envy by Contrapoints The Writer Antonia Pont vs. Envy Envy of Other … Continue reading "Ep 161. A deadly sin"
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Jan 10, 2022
Ep 160. “What’s a poet?”
And what is the fastest fish? Show notes Archives Fine Books My interview with Shastra Deo Helen Allan John Blight Two absolute icons
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Jan 3, 2022
Ep 159. Shastra Deo: Pressure, persona & the ‘I’
Just before New Year’s I got to meet up with Shastra Deo in Brisbane. She spoke about expectation, regret, her award-winning collection The Agonist, how that book continues to follow her, and the weird, frustrating tension between poetry and the industry around it. Show notes Shastra’s interview with Terri Ann Quan Sing for Hello Poet … Continue reading "Ep 159. Shastra Deo: Pressure, persona & the ‘I’"
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Dec 13, 2021
Ep 158. Matthew Buckley Smith: Angels and ministers of grace defend us!
Matthew Buckley Smith is a poet who makes a podcast called SLEERICKETS. You’re welcome. Show notes SLEERICKETS Ep 33: Pudding Day More starter episodes: Ep 14: M*****f****r of the Arts: (includes discussion of Ben Lerner’s The Lights), Ep 24: Musée des NSFW Arts (includes discussion of Keats’ Ode on a Grecian Urn) & Ep 13: … Continue reading "Ep 158. Matthew Buckley Smith: Angels and ministers of grace defend us!"
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Dec 6, 2021
Ep 157. pov ur the hot ex
Turns out I just really like pop music. p.s. Since recording this I’ve learned that A. E. Housman rushed out his Last Poems hoping straight boy crush Moses Jackson would read it. Girl, same. Show notes No Second Troy by William Butler Yeats Maggie Nelson’s Bluets The Penguin Book of Japanese Verse Mibu Tadamine The … Continue reading "Ep 157. pov ur the hot ex"
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Nov 29, 2021
Ep 156. Quitting.
Giving up on poetry, the luxury of regret, and relapse. With help from Liz Taylor & Van Johnson. Show notes Jennifer Mills’ piece On Quitting Poetry & her books Alison Croggon’s Giving up poetry & her New and Selected Poems 1991-2017 Adrienne Rich Rimbaud Vauxhall & I Finding Neverland Berryman by W. S. Merwin
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Nov 22, 2021
Ep 155. Luke Beesley: There is no puzzle
I interviewed Luke Beesley on a rainy Friday, keen to ask about some of what came up when I spoke to Matthew Buckley Smith on Sleerickets episode 30, and not to ask about process, or influence. (I failed to avoid those areas.) Luke reads from his latest collection Aqua Spinach as well as from Jam … Continue reading "Ep 155. Luke Beesley: There is no puzzle"
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Nov 15, 2021
Ep 154. The big sleep
A story. With thanks to ford. for allowing me to use his beautiful track Dusk as the outro here. Also to Lauren Bacall, Andre Prévin & Dinah Shore. Show notes Mary Karr’s Tropic of Squalor and her poem The Voice of God The Best Poems of Jane Kenyon selected by Donald Hall Sleerickets Ep 30 … Continue reading "Ep 154. The big sleep"
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Nov 8, 2021
Ep 153. Jennifer Compton: Poetry as Cassandra
I ask the inimitable Jennifer Compton about her poem Dear Les, why we have no boys in our poetry group, and gaining control by losing it. We also chat about a new poem of hers, and then I get a rejection in real time. Show notes Jen’s poem Law and Order Jen performing Love is … Continue reading "Ep 153. Jennifer Compton: Poetry as Cassandra"
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Nov 1, 2021
Ep 152. Nonsense and crying
I fail to explain poetry. With thanks to K, who only agreed to this after the fact.
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Oct 25, 2021
Ep 151. Peter Goldsworthy: ‘There are 25 million poets in this country.’
Peter Goldsworthy (poet, novelist, Medal of Australia recipient…) describes himself as a doctor-writer. In this last Poetry Month interview, we talk about why he writes in the direct, plain-speaking way he does, the poems he’s been writing about his cancer treatment, and why he thinks anyone who wants to write poetry should simply ‘go for … Continue reading "Ep 151. Peter Goldsworthy: ‘There are 25 million poets in this country.’"
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Oct 18, 2021
Ep 150. Nerding out with Eleanor
My dear friend Eleanor Smagarinsky joined me for this episode, in which we gossip and laugh about workshops that work, workshops that don’t work, and the erotics of language. Also, James Schuyler. Show notes A previous chat with Eleanor in which I yell at her to throw her poetry books out. ModPo Brooklyn Poets Joshua … Continue reading "Ep 150. Nerding out with Eleanor"
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Oct 11, 2021
Ep 149. Maddie Godfrey on teaching & joy
The inimitable Maddie Godfrey shares their thoughts on poetry’s public profile, what’s exciting about hearing new poets share their work for the first time, resilience versus joy, and what we don’t talk about when we talk about poetry.
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Oct 4, 2021
Ep 148. Loki Liddle: ‘There are no Aboriginals in On The Road’
Loki Liddle is a self-described mischief maker, so I thought I’d I ask him whether he ever gets any pushback for not being ‘serious enough’ in his work. He also talks about satire, playfulness, the role of the MC, and how his poems have been received (and, once, totally misinterpreted). Before that, I go on … Continue reading "Ep 148. Loki Liddle: ‘There are no Aboriginals in On The Road’"
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Sep 27, 2021
Ep 147. Dan Hogan: ‘Somewhere a landlord is kissing another landlord’
‘Work sucks. Do a PhD.’ So my big sister advised me, and I don’t think she was wrong (at least about the first part). In this episode I talk about grappling with work in poems, and chat with Dan Hogan about what it is to write against the backdrop of ‘multiple, overlapping crises’. (If someone … Continue reading "Ep 147. Dan Hogan: ‘Somewhere a landlord is kissing another landlord’"
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Sep 20, 2021
Ep 146. Maxine Beneba Clarke: ‘Art does not live on art alone.’
I went into this interview with Maxine Beneba Clarke with a bunch of very earnest questions. Our conversation reminded me that it’s ok to have fun, even in poetry. Even, or maybe especially, right now. We also get into whether we need a poet laureate, what you can learn from bad poetry open mics, and … Continue reading "Ep 146. Maxine Beneba Clarke: ‘Art does not live on art alone.’"
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Sep 13, 2021
Ep 145. John Kinsella on community & empathy
In my first interview for Red Room’s Poetry Month, I spoke with John Kinsella about why poetry needs many voices, the critical response to False Claims of Colonial Thieves, travel, how his thoughts on poetry and writing have changed, and finding empathy late in the game. Show notes ‘Graphology Endgame 100: I am a dickhead’ … Continue reading "Ep 145. John Kinsella on community & empathy"
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Jul 19, 2021
Ep 144. Poetry Month preview
The podcast is coming from inside the radio! Throughout August, Poetry Says will become part of Red Room’s inaugural Poetry Month. Across four episodes broadcast around the country via the Community Radio Network, I’ll be talking to the Red Room team, and a selection of special guests… In the meantime, if you miss your fortnightly … Continue reading "Ep 144. Poetry Month preview"
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Jul 5, 2021
Ep 143. Impossible Machine
A conversation with my friend and co-producer, Shane Henry, about white-knuckling it through poetry open mics, learning a new art form, building something from the ground up, waiting, and a 2003 indie rock album called The Meadowlands. Find out more about Impossible Machine & Lost Weekend.
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Jun 22, 2021
Ep 142. Ep-i-tha-la-mi-ums
Can’t pronounce their proper title, but here are my thoughts on what poems do and don’t do when they show up at weddings, with help from Sarah Jessica Parker and Cameron Diaz.
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Jun 7, 2021
Ep 141. ‘You have to be brave.’ Thuy On’s Turbulence
It was a joy to speak with Thuy On about Turbulence, her 2020 collection from UWAP cataloguing heartbreak, passion, loss and pleasure. She talks about writing the book in a ‘wild gush’, the mechanics of getting it edited and published, how poets around her have supported her work, and what she really thinks when she … Continue reading "Ep 141. ‘You have to be brave.’ Thuy On’s Turbulence"
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May 24, 2021
Ep 140. The poetry of insomnia
I’ve never been very good at sleeping. Luckily, there are plenty of poets who share this deficiency. Show notes Robbie Coburn & I interview Jordie Albiston My interview with David Brooks Acquainted with the night: insomnia poems, edited by Lisa Russ Spaar Part of ‘Georgia‘ by Andrew Zawacki Part of ‘Insomnia at the Solstice‘ by … Continue reading "Ep 140. The poetry of insomnia"
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May 10, 2021
Ep 139. Ella O’Keefe on process, offcuts and going slow
Ella O’Keefe‘s poetry works with ‘the grit and offcuts we collect in the course of living’. With her new book Slowlier just out from Cordite Books, we talk about how she puts her poems together, whether experimental work can be fun and/or personal, how slowness is different from mindfulness, and what it was like to … Continue reading "Ep 139. Ella O’Keefe on process, offcuts and going slow"
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Apr 26, 2021
Ep 138. Workshop.
For the past five weeks I’ve had the pleasure of studying the sonnet with a fabulous group of poets, led by Joshua Mehigan, in a weekly workshop through Brooklyn Poets. Here are some thoughts on the benefits (and challenges) of diving into a poetry workshop. Show notes Poetry and Performance: Writing for the Stage and … Continue reading "Ep 138. Workshop."
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Apr 12, 2021
Ep 137. Christian Bök’s poetic moonshot
Where to begin summarising the work of Christian Bök? He’s a Canadian poet, the author of the bestselling experimental poetry collection Eunoia, a founder of the poetic school of Conceptualism, and most recently, Professor in Creative Writing at the University of Melbourne. In this interview Christian talks about what it’s been like to move between … Continue reading "Ep 137. Christian Bök’s poetic moonshot"
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Mar 29, 2021
Ep 136. Bella Li: ‘What went we out into this wilderness to find?’
Open Bella Li’s collections Argosy or Lost Lake and you’ll immediately be struck by the beauty of her imagery. In this chat, recorded on a rainy Melbourne afternoon, I check in with Bella after the year that was. We discuss how and why she works with the materials she does, her relationships to both poetry … Continue reading "Ep 136. Bella Li: ‘What went we out into this wilderness to find?’"
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Mar 16, 2021
Ep 135. I’m feeling very iambic today
Thoughts on a workshop I got to do with Brooklyn Poets, led by the amazing Jay Deshpande, on prosody and the decolonisation thereof. Also on Emily Dickinson and her poem Because I could not stop for Death. Show notes Terrance Hayes on Commonplace The Ode Less Travelled by Stephen Fry A Quiet Passion
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Mar 1, 2021
Ep 134. Justin Clemens: The inbox at the end of the world
I got to speak with Justin Clemens—Melbourne poet and academic—in person in mid-February 2021. Melbourne had just come out of a five-day hard lockdown, Facebook had recently wiped news in Australia, the tennis was still happening…what a time to be alive! We go everywhere in this conversation, from Justin’s book The Mundiad to the work … Continue reading "Ep 134. Justin Clemens: The inbox at the end of the world"
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Feb 15, 2021
Ep 133. Michael Aiken: Working outside the lines
Describing Michael Aiken as a ‘poet’ only tells a tiny part of his story—Michael’s creative interests span everything from fiction writing to video games. Last year, all those interests came together in Sydney’s Newtown, where Michael now runs Garden Lounge Creative Space. We talk about what it’s been like to get Garden Lounge up and … Continue reading "Ep 133. Michael Aiken: Working outside the lines"
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Feb 1, 2021
Ep 132. Anne-Marie Te Whiu: Weaving a moment
If you haven’t yet come across Anne-Marie Te Whiu‘s writing, you’ve definitely felt the ripple effects of her work in poetry. She co-edited UQP’s Solid Air, Australia and New Zealand Spoken Word, co-directed the Queensland Poetry Festival from 2015-17, and this year we’ll see the publication of Whisper Songs by Tony Birch, which Annie also … Continue reading "Ep 132. Anne-Marie Te Whiu: Weaving a moment"
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Nov 2, 2020
Ep 131. Fiona Wright: Beyond the narrative map
Fiona Wright’s work resists classification in the best way. Through some magic combination of essay and poetry—by both zeroing in and staying open—she reveals the beauty, grief and absurdity that makes up our lives. In this episode we talk about her latest project, the recurring themes in her work, how she thinks about narrative, and … Continue reading "Ep 131. Fiona Wright: Beyond the narrative map"
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Oct 19, 2020
Ep 130. Letter from Melbourne
Mid-October, 2020. Some more thoughts on energy, writing, not writing and the lesser poems of Anne Sexton. Show notes Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way Nine Days in Wuhan by Peter Hessler Wuhan poet Xiaoyin on writing during the pandemic The Complete Poems of Anne Sexton Anne’s Letter Written During a January Northeaster
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Oct 6, 2020
Ep 129. The Empty Show
My first full-length poetry collection, The Empty Show, is now officially launched. What a crazy thing to be able to say! I’m so grateful to everyone who helped me bring this book into the world. You can see what the launch looked like below, and check out three reimagined poems from the book at theemptyshow.com.
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Sep 21, 2020
Ep. 128 Oscar-worthy poems
Poems have weird jobs when they show up in movies. Sometimes they have to make up for a broader lack of meaning, or frame the theme of the movie in just a few seconds. Almost always, they’re positioned as something only a chosen few can truly understand. Guest starring Robin Williams Andrew Scott Michelle Pfeiffer … Continue reading "Ep. 128 Oscar-worthy poems"
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Sep 7, 2020
Ep. 127 Liam Ferney: ‘Poetry is a galaxy’
I first encountered Liam Ferney’s poetry on an afternoon trip to Hill of Content. I liked his book so much it made me jealous, so I didn’t buy it (nice). In this chat we talk about everything from what can’t be a poem to writing from within a dominant community, masculinity, complicity, the pageantry of … Continue reading "Ep. 127 Liam Ferney: ‘Poetry is a galaxy’"
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Aug 24, 2020
Ep 126. Michelle Cahill: A flowering of voices
Speaking to me from Alyawarre Country in the Northern Territory, Michelle Cahill shares how this new environment is shaping her poetry and her thinking. We talk colonialism, cross-cultural writing and the flowering of POC voices in Australian poetry. We also touch on what the writing life asks of us as people and some of the … Continue reading "Ep 126. Michelle Cahill: A flowering of voices"
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Aug 10, 2020
Ep 125. Letter from Melbourne
Mid-August, 2020. Some thoughts on energy, podcasting, poetry, the news, and why I dropped out of journalism school. Show notes The Poetry Gods Ocean Vuong ‘Extraordinary Voices for Extraordinary Times’ Ep 1. with Ellen van Neerven and Eunice Andrada If You Are Over Staying Woke by Morgan Parker Self-Portrait as Kendrick Lamar, Laughing to the … Continue reading "Ep 125. Letter from Melbourne"
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Jul 27, 2020
Ep 124. Gayatri Nair reports from Western Sydney
Gayatri Nair is one of the many women of colour who are part of Sweatshop—a literacy movement out of Western Sydney that aims to empower ‘culturally and linguistically diverse communities through reading, writing and critical thinking’. We talk about how a community like this can support new writers, why critical feedback on your work is … Continue reading "Ep 124. Gayatri Nair reports from Western Sydney"
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Jul 13, 2020
Ep 123. ‘What was terrible was simple.’
I discovered Hilda Morley and her poem ‘Song of the Terrible‘ while hunting for something else, but this was exactly the poem I needed in the moment I found it. It reminds me of one of my favourite sayings: ‘Relax. Nothing is under control.’
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Jun 29, 2020
Ep 122. Antonia Pont: ‘Pessimism is very imprecise.’
Every interview I do for this show offers its own rewards. Speaking with Antonia Pont, I got to hear a message of truly radical gentleness that helped me turn the corner out of a recent stretch of darkness. We also ate whiskey cake. Antonia’s stunning new book, You Will Not Know In Advance What You’ll … Continue reading "Ep 122. Antonia Pont: ‘Pessimism is very imprecise.’"
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Jun 15, 2020
Ep 121. ‘Are all poets depressed?’
The other side of having a border collie brain is, occasionally, having to look after ‘the black dog’. In this episode I look at the persistent myth that being a poet is somehow connected to poor mental health. Show notes Quora: ‘Do poets get depression or do depressed people write poetry?‘ ‘30 depression poems to … Continue reading "Ep 121. ‘Are all poets depressed?’"
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Jun 1, 2020
Ep 120. Ellen van Neerven: Love poems, comfort and writing ‘Throat’
Mununjali author Ellen van Neerven’s new collection Throat, just out from UQP, has incredible breadth. The book moves from themes of love, sexuality and gender to ideas like ecopoetry, queer elders and the exchange of power between writer and reader. In this conversation we touch on all those ideas, always returning to the question of … Continue reading "Ep 120. Ellen van Neerven: Love poems, comfort and writing ‘Throat’"
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May 18, 2020
Ep 119. Hypochondria vs Poetry
I used to be (still am?) a hypochondriac. When I read Anne Boyer’s new book The Undying recently, I was reminded of some long months (years?) spent trawling online health information for a sense of comfort—and not finding it. In Anne’s work, I saw again how poetry resists the flat, reductive language we read and … Continue reading "Ep 119. Hypochondria vs Poetry"
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May 4, 2020
Ep 118. Alison Whittaker on First Nations poetry and unanswerable questions
‘If this book can be a memory for us, then I would consider it successful.’ So says Alison Whittaker of the new anthology Fire Front: First Nations poetry and power today, just out from UQP. In this episode, Alison and I talk about everything that went into creating this new collection and why it was … Continue reading "Ep 118. Alison Whittaker on First Nations poetry and unanswerable questions"
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Apr 20, 2020
Ep 117. David Stavanger on community, self-care, burnout and dog minding
‘The poetry community is a living thing,’ David Stavanger says. With all in-person poetry events on hold when we recorded this interview, that statement has never felt more true. David and I talk about his latest book, ‘Case Notes’, along with the joys and challenges of being a producer in the arts, the work of … Continue reading "Ep 117. David Stavanger on community, self-care, burnout and dog minding"
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Apr 6, 2020
Ep 116. Daniel Swain: Straight men, tarantulas and institutional absurdity
Daniel Swain describes himself as ‘a gay man but also so much less than that.’ Self-depreciation aside, Daniel is just as funny and intriguing as the poems in his new chapbook You Deserve Every Happiness But I Deserve More. In this episode we talk about life in isolation, the absurdity of higher education, why straight … Continue reading "Ep 116. Daniel Swain: Straight men, tarantulas and institutional absurdity"
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Mar 23, 2020
Ep 115. Michael Farrell & the swimming pool of poetry
On March 19th, 2020 I sat under a tree with Michael Farrell – one of the most influential poets working in Australia today. We were meeting at a strange moment in history, but spent a lot of our time laughing. We discussed everything from One Direction to the role of Catholicism in Michael’s poetry, the … Continue reading "Ep 115. Michael Farrell & the swimming pool of poetry"
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Mar 9, 2020
Ep 114. On publication
There are as many paths to publication as there are writers. Still, I wanted to share the process of bringing my first full-length collection, The Empty Show, into the world. I’m not the best at discussing my own achievements, but I hope this episode is useful to those who want to see their own collection … Continue reading "Ep 114. On publication"
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Feb 24, 2020
Ep 113. Rejection.
Rejection is part of writing for publication. Here are my strategies for dealing with it, thoughts on how it can function in poets’ lives, and an example of how not to deal with rejection.
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Feb 10, 2020
Ep 112. Laurie Duggan: ‘Fragments, fragments, thefts and blunders.’
I had the chance to talk with Laurie Duggan at the end of 2019 on a smokey day in Sydney. We began with the Malley poems (what else?). From there we covered how Laurie gathers and shapes his poetic material, what the Sydney poetry scene was like when he first arrived (and how he sees … Continue reading "Ep 112. Laurie Duggan: ‘Fragments, fragments, thefts and blunders.’"
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Nov 17, 2019
Ep 111. Poems that got me through 2019
I’ve keep these poems within reach all year. Here are my 2019 go-to poems and the reasons why they’ve been so important to me. Show notes Walt Whitman’s Crossing Brooklyn Ferry Ashbery’s Some Trees W. S. Merwin’s Berryman Hannah Gamble’s Growing a Bear and my episode about it Morgan Parker’s Now More Than Ever and … Continue reading "Ep 111. Poems that got me through 2019"
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Nov 3, 2019
Ep 110. Elena Gomez on Marxist feminism and Friday Night Lights
In this chat with Body of Work author Elena Gomez (which also features my cat early in the piece), we dive deep into the thinking behind this intriguing collection. Elena talks about confronting feelings of perfectionism and inadequacy, the book’s relationship to technology/late capitalism, and breaks down what a Marxist feminist poetics might look like … Continue reading "Ep 110. Elena Gomez on Marxist feminism and Friday Night Lights"
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Oct 20, 2019
Ep 109. The frustration of Five Bells
Kenneth Slessor’s Five Bells has frustrated and eluded me for years. In this episode I wrestle with its strange legacy, entertaining the idea that this poem isn’t so much an elegy for a specific person as it is a lament for lost potential among artists in Australia more generally. Show notes Radio National’s Poetry Special … Continue reading "Ep 109. The frustration of Five Bells"
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Oct 6, 2019
Ep 108. Bonny Cassidy on image, history and reckoning
In this episode I finally sit down with my friend and poetry mentor Bonny Cassidy. We talk about her relationship to visual art, how she sees her earlier work, the poets and writers her books have been in conversation with (and how that’s changed) and her new project on bearing witness to First Nations’ experience. … Continue reading "Ep 108. Bonny Cassidy on image, history and reckoning"
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Sep 22, 2019
Ep 107. Joanne Kyger’s triple rainbow
I previously wrote off Joanne Kyger as too enamoured with her first drafts, but after reading Robert Adamson’s Bolinas Bay, an Ode (dedicated to Kyger) I’ve had a change of heart. In this episode I look at Kyger’s poems June 7, ‘I’m Very Busy Now So I Can’t Answer All Those Questions About Beat Women … Continue reading "Ep 107. Joanne Kyger’s triple rainbow"
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Sep 8, 2019
Ep 106. David Brooks on opening
‘Some of the things we hold most dear about poetry may be things that we have to clear our minds of, in order that we see other things more clearly.’ After admiring his work for many years, I had the chance to talk with David Brooks at his home in the Blue Mountains back in … Continue reading "Ep 106. David Brooks on opening"
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Aug 26, 2019
Ep 105. A found poem for spring
Look, I don’t love e e cummings. But his influence is hard to ignore completely (even if I have ignored it for 104 episodes). Here I look at a poem of his – found handwritten in a very old anthology – and talk a little about springtime, legacy, old-school avant-gardism and future echoes. Show notes … Continue reading "Ep 105. A found poem for spring"
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Aug 11, 2019
Ep 104. Pam Brown: Skeptical optimism in a post-human age
Plastic orchids, a foggy morning, the differences between ‘basically’ and ‘literally’ – Pam Brown could make any material into a poem and it would somehow work. It was an absolute joy to talk to Pam about what she’s reading, how Sydney continues to change, how she puts her poems together, what it is to write … Continue reading "Ep 104. Pam Brown: Skeptical optimism in a post-human age"
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Jul 28, 2019
Ep 103. Finally reading Donald Hall
I’ve resisted reading Donald Hall for so long, probably as a misguided act of loyalty to my favourite poet, Donald’s late wife Jane Kenyon. Recently I was given his book A Blue Wing Tilts At The Edge Of The Sea and finally opened it up to find another view on Hall and Kenyon’s relationship through … Continue reading "Ep 103. Finally reading Donald Hall"
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Jul 14, 2019
Ep 102. Chris Wallace-Crabbe on ‘Rondo’
In this conversation, Chris Wallace-Crabbe discusses his latest collection, Rondo, which brings together around a decade’s worth of new writing. He talks about how the collection tracks parts of his family history, the use of language that defines his work, his experiences as an Australian poet living in the US, and how poems come to … Continue reading "Ep 102. Chris Wallace-Crabbe on ‘Rondo’"
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Jun 30, 2019
Ep 101. Letting go of poetry books
My dear friend Eleanor Smagarinsky is one of the most diligent readers I know. In this episode, we talk through the books she’s considering letting go of, but none of these decisions are easy… Show notes Poems by Elizabeth Bishop The Mirror and the Lamp: Romantic Theory and the Critical Tradition by M.H. Abrams Shakespeare’s … Continue reading "Ep 101. Letting go of poetry books"
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Jun 16, 2019
Ep 100. Louise Carter interviews Alice Allan
Through making 100 episodes of Poetry Says I’ve had the chance to talk to almost 50 poets from Australia and elsewhere about how they work and the poets they love. Louise Carter was one of the first to take a chance on my new venture (and since came back for a repeat visit!). In this … Continue reading "Ep 100. Louise Carter interviews Alice Allan"
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Jun 3, 2019
Ep 99. I made 99 episodes of a poetry podcast
Here’s what I learned.
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May 19, 2019
Ep 98. Jeanine Leane: Education, representation and unasked questions
Talking with Jeanine Leane gave me so much to think about. We covered what it was like to study and write in Canberra in the 1980s, the role of writing groups in her writing process, the difference between racism and white privilege, the understanding (or lack thereof) of Indigenous Australians amongst settler critics and publishers, … Continue reading "Ep 98. Jeanine Leane: Education, representation and unasked questions"
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May 5, 2019
Ep 97. What makes poets lucky
My favourite poem – ever – is Dorothy Porter’s ‘Lucky’. In this episode I talk about why it matters so much to me and what it is to have someone who’ll make you coffee while you’re trying to decide where the hell to put that line break. Show notes The Best Australian Poems 2007, edited … Continue reading "Ep 97. What makes poets lucky"
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Apr 22, 2019
Ep 96. Eddie Paterson: The trashy and the profound
…I kind of wish I’d written Eddie Paterson’s Redactor. There. Now you know. In this episode I get to hear about how Eddie made this hilarious and moving collection of found poetry, who he was writing to and why, and about his artistic influences. Billy Collins and Carly Rae Jepsen are also mentioned. Show notes … Continue reading "Ep 96. Eddie Paterson: The trashy and the profound"
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Apr 7, 2019
Ep 95. O’Hara on his way to work
I finally get it. The O’Hara thing. Walking to Work – a strange, broken poem full of dismissiveness and resolve – has finally won me over. Show notes Frank O’Hara Selected Poems from Borzoi Poetry Personism: A Manifesto O’Hara’s celebratory poem Today
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Mar 24, 2019
Ep 94. Claire Albrecht: Boosh at the End of the World
This didn’t feel like my first conversation with Newcastle poet Claire Albrecht. We started out with The Mighty Boosh and Atwood, moved on to Claire’s chapbook pinky swear, covered guilt and the writing life, the enduring comfort of Dawson’s Creek and Claudia Rankine. Somewhere in there, I remembered to introduce myself. Show notes The Mighty … Continue reading "Ep 94. Claire Albrecht: Boosh at the End of the World"
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Mar 10, 2019
Ep 93. David Brooks: Insomnia and wild ducks
David Brooks’ The Balcony was one of the first poetry books I truly connected with. In this episode I look closer at two of his poems and draw some parallels with another of my favourites, Jane Kenyon. Show notes Wild Duck Sutra in Meanjin Jane Kenyon’s Depression in Winter
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Feb 24, 2019
Ep 92. Adam Ford: ‘And are you proud of me?’
‘Fuck you Adam Ford’ is a tough way to introduce yourself to your favourite poet. But that’s what my cousin, Bridget Mackey, ended up doing. This is the story of a Canberra girl who fell in love with a poetry book – and accidentally ended up living inside it. Show notes Bridget’s play Fools Gold … Continue reading "Ep 92. Adam Ford: ‘And are you proud of me?’"
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Feb 10, 2019
Ep 91. Kate Lilley’s anti-pastoral
To kick off Poetry Says for 2019 I take a look at Kate Lilley’s ‘Pastoral’ – a funny, biting poem about maths class, movies and refusing to write about the seasons. ‘Pastoral’ is from Kate’s 2018 book Tilt, which just took out the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for poetry. Show notes Charles Harpur’s A Midsummer Noon … Continue reading "Ep 91. Kate Lilley’s anti-pastoral"
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Dec 17, 2018
Ep 90. A poem for broken friendships
I’ve been looking for John Russell McCarthy’s Friendship Broken for a while now. It reads more like Luke Davies that something published in 1938. I hope it speaks to you as much as it does me. Show notes The Lives of a Naturalist and a Poet Intertwined in Sierra Madre how many of us have … Continue reading "Ep 90. A poem for broken friendships"
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Dec 3, 2018
Ep 89. Thirteen Ways of Looking at a List Poem
I love a good list poem. I can’t define them. Stevens is probably a bad example. But I’m going to start there anyway. Show notes Wallace Stevens: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a List Poem Auden’s Funeral Blues Eloise Grills: Reading a list of celebrities who own islands as self-care James Waters: Impossible Images or; a list of … Continue reading "Ep 89. Thirteen Ways of Looking at a List Poem"
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Nov 19, 2018
Ep 88. Joel Deane on writing, not writing, and life after breaking point
Joel Deane writes poetry, fiction and non-fiction. In this conversation, Joel and I talk honestly about the place of poetry in between the commitments of daily life. We discuss honouring the compulsion to write without becoming ‘an absolute arsehole’, taking care of oneself in order to be able to do the work, the feeling of … Continue reading "Ep 88. Joel Deane on writing, not writing, and life after breaking point"
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Nov 4, 2018
Ep 87. Sylvia Plath, beekeeper
Five months before her death, Sylvia Plath wrote to her mother that her bee sequence included ‘the best poems of my life’. But these aren’t the poems we remember her for. These are my thoughts on Plath’s long shadow (and my unsolicited beekeeping tips). As promised, here’s the person-sized swarm that inspired this episode: Show notes … Continue reading "Ep 87. Sylvia Plath, beekeeper"
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Oct 22, 2018
Ep 86. A.J. Carruthers on sound poetry and experimentalism
I suspect this chat with A.J. Carruthers about experimental poetry in Australia will kick start your next poem. We cover a lot of ground, from defining sound poetry to whether experimental work needs more recognition. But my favourite moment is when A.J. says: ‘Poetry is not a profession. It doesn’t profess, but it does. It’s about … Continue reading "Ep 86. A.J. Carruthers on sound poetry and experimentalism"
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Oct 8, 2018
Ep 85. Paterson, Williams and women
My incredibly late take on the movie Paterson and a look at Paterson, the poem. Does it matter that William Carlos Williams’ women are often merely decorative? That one of his most famous poems is about stealing his wife’s breakfast? And should Jim Jarmusch have done better by his female lead? Show notes Ep 38. To get the … Continue reading "Ep 85. Paterson, Williams and women"
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Sep 24, 2018
Ep 84. Petra White on the Bible and the office
I spoke with Petra White as she was preparing to leave Melbourne for London about her books Reading for a Quiet Morning (GloriaSMH Press, 2017) and A Hunger (John Leonard Press, 2014). We also covered whether it’s interesting to write about motherhood, the impossibility of writing at the office, and that one time I met … Continue reading "Ep 84. Petra White on the Bible and the office"
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Sep 10, 2018
Ep. 83 Two not quite love poems
Maybe it’s just me, but I think there’s some overlap between Ashbery’s Some Trees David Herd’s 3 notes towards a love song (from his book All Just). Both are something like love poems that also allow for things ‘to be difficult between us’. Another shoutout here to Al Filries and the ModPo gang for introducing me to … Continue reading "Ep. 83 Two not quite love poems"
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Aug 27, 2018
Ep 82. Grant Caldwell on ‘I am not the trick of the flower’
I’ve been on Grant Caldwell’s trail since I came across his poem ‘I am not the trick of the flower’ over a decade ago. In this episode I track him down at the University of Melbourne to finally ask him about this poem along with things like writing from the position of the ‘privileged white male’ and … Continue reading "Ep 82. Grant Caldwell on ‘I am not the trick of the flower’"
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Aug 13, 2018
Ep 81. Poetry mentors, poetry friends
Writing poetry shouldn’t be a ‘solitary pursuit’. Here’s how I finally found a poetry mentor, why the mentor-mentee relationship is valuable (and troubled) and why you should be sending drafts (and poems you love) to your friends. Show notes Australian Society of Authors mentorship program This Condensery: Poets on Mentorship Interview with Jennifer Firestone and … Continue reading "Ep 81. Poetry mentors, poetry friends"
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Jul 30, 2018
Ep. 80 Louise Carter: Totem vs. Interferon Psalms
I first spoke to Sydney poet Louise Carter about Luke Davies two years ago. Since then we’ve talked imposter syndrome and had many a cathartic poetry-related chat away from the mic. This time around, we dive deeper into Davies’ work, looking at Totem and Interferon Psalms from new angles.
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Jul 16, 2018
Ep 79. A Horatian Ode for gin drinkers
I stumbled on J.D. McClatchy’s Late Night Ode very much by chance, but now it feels essential to me. It turns out it’s a Horatian ode about getting older and letting go (or attempting to). Show notes Horace IV i. W.H. Auden reads In Memory of W.B. Yeats Alice Oswald reads from Memorial Homer’s Odyssey by Simon … Continue reading "Ep 79. A Horatian Ode for gin drinkers"
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Jul 2, 2018
Ep 78. Lisa Gorton on Marianne Moore
What more can I say? Having this chat was a long-held dream come true. Listen as poet and novelist Lisa Gorton puts Moore’s poetic career in a broader context, discusses what libraries should really be doing with the poetry books they throw out, and what it’s like to make the final calls on a ‘Best’ … Continue reading "Ep 78. Lisa Gorton on Marianne Moore"
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Jun 19, 2018
Ep 77. Notes from a writing retreat
At the end of May I had the chance to spend a full six days away from home at a writing retreat, working on poems. Here’s what I want to tell you about the things that became clear – about writing and not writing – while I was there. Show notes Commonplace Ep 48. Poets … Continue reading "Ep 77. Notes from a writing retreat"
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Jun 4, 2018
Ep 76. Will Druce with your Lorca 101
Latin American poetry is so vast and overwhelming! I don’t know where to start! Yep. But Will Druce is here with a rough guide to Federico García Lorca, a look at where his writing intersects with Frank O’Hara and Rimbaud, and plenty else to say about writing and reading outside English. We also chat about building and … Continue reading "Ep 76. Will Druce with your Lorca 101"
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May 16, 2018
Ep 75. When Rumi is absolutely no help
Which poet is there for you when life gets particularly strange? Sorry Rumi, but it’s not you. Lately I’ve had cause to go back to Gertrude Stein and her beautifully strange poem Christian Bérard. Show notes Stein reading from Christian Bérard Let us describe A Carafe, that is a Blind Glass If I Told Him, A Completed … Continue reading "Ep 75. When Rumi is absolutely no help"
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May 6, 2018
Ep 74. Geraldine Burrowes on Michael Farrell and Claire Gaskin
Geraldine Burrowes came to poetry later in life from the world of visual art. We met in her beautiful apartment and talked about two poets who were influential in that transition – Michael Farrell and Claire Gaskin – along with what went into making her book pick up half under, out from the Rabbit Poets series. … Continue reading "Ep 74. Geraldine Burrowes on Michael Farrell and Claire Gaskin"
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Apr 25, 2018
Ep 73. Inside a poetry workshop II: Erasure, cut-ups and villanelles
It’s a good day when you get to sit around a table with some friends and write something surprising. Here’s what happened when we tried our hands at cut-ups, erasure and the villanelle. Show notes Inside a poetry workshop with Benjamin Dodds and Mran-Maree Laing. Bird by Bird by Annie Lamott
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Apr 15, 2018
Ep 72. Anupama Pilbrow on the moments in between
Anupama Pilbrow is co-editor at The Suburban Review and the author of Body Poems, just out from Vagabond Press. We recorded this conversation as Anupama was packing boxes on the eve of leaving Melbourne. Over tea we covered everything from her thoughts on moving to a new city to how poetry relates to pure mathematics, Kamala … Continue reading "Ep 72. Anupama Pilbrow on the moments in between"
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Apr 5, 2018
Ep 71. Writing an Easter sestina
What happened when I had four days off and decided to try to write a long poem. Show notes The Ode Less Travelled by Stephen Fry How to write a sestina
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Mar 26, 2018
Ep 70. Claire Gaskin on Gig Ryan
Sitting at Claire Gaskin’s kitchen table, I finally got to thank her for the ideas and poems she shared at a reading at Some Velvet Morning back in 2013, including Gig Ryan’s If I Had a Gun. We also talked about specificity, gender in poetry, writing from emotion, and took a good long look at Gig’s … Continue reading "Ep 70. Claire Gaskin on Gig Ryan"
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Mar 18, 2018
Ep 69. Happy Birthday, Ern
Ern Malley continues to be a made up person. So why did we celebrate his birthday this week? And why do Australian poets keep talking about him? I take a run at our most infamous poetry hoax. Show notes Everything you could ever want to know about Ern in Jacket 17.
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Mar 6, 2018
Ep 68. Ali Alizadeh on power, influence, anxiety and hope
I still remember buying a copy of Ali Alizadeh’s Ashes in the Air and the immediate effect the book had on me. In this interview Ali looks back on what it was like to write that book and talks about aspects of writing poetry in Australia today including power, influence, hype, popularity – and hope. … Continue reading "Ep 68. Ali Alizadeh on power, influence, anxiety and hope"
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Feb 25, 2018
Ep 67. There will be time (I’m pretty sure)
Time and I are not friends. Sometimes we have massive fights. Usually I don’t win. But poems help. Show notes The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T. S. Eliot Five Bells by Kenneth Slessor Morgan Parker on Commonplace In Italy by Derek Walcott Antilamentation by Dorianne Laux
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Feb 14, 2018
Ep 66. What we read last summer
If you’re a fan of Chat 10 Looks 3 (which you should be) you’ll enjoy this episode. Prolific poet and reviewer Maggie Ball and I catch up to talk about what we read over the summer and what we hope to achieve writing-wise in 2018. We also casually start up a Michael Farrell reading circle. … Continue reading "Ep 66. What we read last summer"
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Feb 4, 2018
Ep 65. Poems of solitary delights
We’re back for 2018! I’m starting the year off by going way back to 19th Century Japan and Tachibana Akemi’s Poems of Solitary Delights, then following that thread over to Robert Creeley’s ‘Talking’:
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Dec 14, 2017
Ep 64. Stuart Cooke’s Opera
Stuart Cooke’s Opera is one of those books that’s changed my understanding of what a poetry collection can do. (It also includes one of my favourite poems, An Overcast Day in Another Part of the World.) In this interview I get the chance to nerd out with Stuart about how he wrote Opera and the … Continue reading "Ep 64. Stuart Cooke’s Opera"
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Dec 5, 2017
Ep 63. Ed Tato on poems that must be spoken
Talking with Ed Tato reminded me how many rooms there are to discover in the house of poetry. We go from Ulysses to Kansas to a workshop with Mary Karr, wondering about categorisation, why certain writing resonates, and returning to the fact that some poems demand to be spoken aloud. Show notes Early Occult Memory … Continue reading "Ep 63. Ed Tato on poems that must be spoken"
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Nov 27, 2017
Ep 62. Amanda Anastasi on poetry at the mic
After finally getting up to read at Owl and Cat, I was lucky enough to have Amanda Anastasi around to chat about all things open mic, the highs and lows of being a poetry gig convenor and her own approaches to getting something down on the page (in between gigs). Show notes The Owl and … Continue reading "Ep 62. Amanda Anastasi on poetry at the mic"
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Nov 15, 2017
Ep 61. Dave Drayton on PMs and poetry demo tapes
Dave Drayton joins me to chat about his recent book P(oe)Ms, the role of constraint, productive and preventative barriers in writing, and some of the poets who inspired him to try new things when performing his work. We also get into the fraught area of ‘networking’ in the poetry community – is it all just about … Continue reading "Ep 61. Dave Drayton on PMs and poetry demo tapes"
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Nov 5, 2017
Ep 60. John Blight’s old-school advice for Aussie poets
I’ve gradually discovered that Great Uncle Jack Blight was a poet with something to say (and more than a few books under his belt). I delve into his 1965 lecture ‘The Shaping of a Contemporary Poet’, share his advice for other Australian poets (most of which still stands up) and take a few detours into family … Continue reading "Ep 60. John Blight’s old-school advice for Aussie poets"
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Oct 26, 2017
Ep 59. The Melinda Bufton mixtape
Set up your tea/biscuits/wine/other treats because this chat with Melinda Bufton is cosy and joyful. Within the first 10 minutes we’ve covered performance, lyrics, the page, the lyric I, rhyme, feminism and constraint. It gets even better from there. Show notes Melinda’s poem The Possible Dream (Buying Jeans Online) My interviews with UK poet and … Continue reading "Ep 59. The Melinda Bufton mixtape"
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Oct 16, 2017
Ep 58. On not writing
This episode comes to you from a messy desk, sandwiched between items on a long to-do list and a mostly blocked out calendar. I’m sure you’re familiar with the feeling. Show notes Not writing by Jane Kenyon Antilamentation by Dorianne Laux
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Oct 5, 2017
Ep 57. Auden’s secret Berlin Journal and poems that fall apart
I’ve been trying to write a poem in response to Auden for about four years. It’s not going well. So I thought I’d talk to you about the ideas I’m trying to grapple with. Show notes W.H. Auden – Tell Me The Truth About Love ‘People may really be what we first though them.’ E.M. … Continue reading "Ep 57. Auden’s secret Berlin Journal and poems that fall apart"
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Sep 26, 2017
Ep 56. Getting published.
Past guest Sean Wright joins us again this week to talk about the process of getting his first collection published (!) along with navigating the world of poetry journals. How do you know where to send work? What do you say when you do? We don’t have all the answers but these are our tips on … Continue reading "Ep 56. Getting published."
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Sep 17, 2017
Ep 55. Ashbery’s autobiography (in 14 lines)
Ashbery’s poem ‘Your name here’ has been pinned up in my office for almost a decade now. Reading it again in light of his passing, I saw another element of the poem I’d never noticed before. Show notes A review of Your Name Here Sign up for ModPo 2017 on Coursera Al Filreis chats with … Continue reading "Ep 55. Ashbery’s autobiography (in 14 lines)"
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Sep 6, 2017
Ep 54. Alistair Baldwin on comedy, permission and Milligan
Can poets learn something from the world of improv? After chatting with Alistair Baldwin I’m more convinced than ever that the best elements of poetry and comedy are basically aligned. This episode is also for you if you’ve ever hit a wall writing that dreaded 100-word bio… Show notes ‘Disability Impressions Offensive’ Decrees Meryl Streep To … Continue reading "Ep 54. Alistair Baldwin on comedy, permission and Milligan"
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Aug 27, 2017
Ep 53. Joanne Kyger is afraid (but also funny)
Feeling a little sketchy, I went back to Joanne Kyger’s On Time, which led me to a poem about why calendars can be so very scary. Show notes I am afraid (the younger) I am afraid (the elder) I’m Very Busy Now So I Can’t Answer All Those Questions About Beat Women Poets
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Aug 17, 2017
Ep 53. Steve Wasserman on Wallace Stevens and poetic medicine
UK-based psychotherapist Steve Wasserman sees poetry as having a kind of medicinal power, especially when memorised. We chat about using memorisation to step outside the churn of the mind, then Steve recites the very tricky Wallace Stevens poem Final Soliloquy of the Interior Paramour (newly memorised!). Show notes Steve’s podcast Poetry Pharmacy Steve reading Final Soliloquy and discussing … Continue reading "Ep 53. Steve Wasserman on Wallace Stevens and poetic medicine"
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Aug 7, 2017
Ep 52. Inside a poetry workshop
Would you let a mic into your poetry workshop? Sydney poets Benjamin Dodds and Mran-Maree Laing were brave enough to let me record while we workshopped three unpublished poems. We wanted to show what the workshop process can be like for those who might feel intimidated by the idea. I think the result is pretty representative of … Continue reading "Ep 52. Inside a poetry workshop"
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Jul 30, 2017
Ep 51. Toby Fitch on Rimbaud’s Bloomin’ Notions
Grab yourself a beverage, pull up a chair and listen in as I ask Toby Fitch to help me understand Rimbaud, figure out where the keys to poetry are hiding and keep my sense of humour about me along the way. Toby reads us a new, very funny poem during this chat and talks a … Continue reading "Ep 51. Toby Fitch on Rimbaud’s Bloomin’ Notions"
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Jul 18, 2017
Ep 50. ‘All the practice you get makes you better.’
For my 50th episode I wanted to talk about how I got started with this podcast, which took me back to a pretty painful decision point in my life. These are the poems (and quotes) that helped me stop being so busy, sit down and actually make something. Show notes Sonya Tsakalakis on Charlotte Mew … Continue reading "Ep 50. ‘All the practice you get makes you better.’"
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Jul 9, 2017
Ep 49. Gemma Mahadeo on Ted Hughes and Fred D’Aguiar
In an episode that spans countries, languages and histories, Melbourne poet Gemma Mahadeo shares the poem Calypso History Lesson from Fred D’Aguiar’s book The Rose of Toulouse. We start off with some thoughts on Ted Hughes’ Crow before D’Aguiar’s poem takes us in all sorts of directions, from Hansonism to urban foxes to West Indian cricket commentary. Show … Continue reading "Ep 49. Gemma Mahadeo on Ted Hughes and Fred D’Aguiar"
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Jun 28, 2017
Ep 48. Benjamin Solah on spoken word in Melbourne
Benjamin Solah can recite a calendar of upcoming spoken word gigs from memory. We talk about what spoken word actually is (or might be), whether there’s a particular slam style, how politics plays into this kind of poetry and why you should just get up there and perform at the next open mic. Show notes … Continue reading "Ep 48. Benjamin Solah on spoken word in Melbourne"
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Jun 18, 2017
Ep 47. Jack Spicer channels the Martians
Can poems really be ‘dictated’ from somewhere outside the poet? Or is this just a slice of California woo? In his 1965 lecture series Jack Spicer had opinions, and plenty of ’em. Show notes The House that Jack Built: The Collected Lectures of Jack Spicer edited by Peter Gizzi (Wesleyan University Press) My Vocabulary Did … Continue reading "Ep 47. Jack Spicer channels the Martians"
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Jun 7, 2017
Ep 46. Imposter syndrome
Louise Carter and I get real about feeling like frauds. Why do poets sometimes end up with what’s known as ‘imposter syndrome’? And can we get past it enough to enjoy our accomplishments? Whether you’re new to writing poetry or a widely published poet, I think there’ll be something in this one for you.
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May 31, 2017
Bonus: The day after reading that difficult poem…
I check back in with Eleanor 24 hours after we finished our recording about Emily Berry’s The End. What did she learn? How did she feel? We chat about getting back into reading poetry after a break, feeling like being an outsider/insider and feeling like you may have got it ‘wrong’. Shout out to Jen … Continue reading "Bonus: The day after reading that difficult poem…"
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May 28, 2017
Ep 45. Getting into poetry: Reading a ‘difficult’ poem for the first time
Are poets who write ‘difficult’ poems being intentionally obtuse? Are they trying to hide something? How on earth do you approach poems like these for the first time? Today I chat with ModPo classmate and friend Eleanor about Emily Berry’s The End, just out in Poetry magazine. We make our way through a totally unprepared first … Continue reading "Ep 45. Getting into poetry: Reading a ‘difficult’ poem for the first time"
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May 16, 2017
Ep 44. Anne Carson visits Bronte, post-breakup
Anne Carson’s shapeshifting long poem The Glass Essay exists somewhere between lyric, confessional and narrative. The deeper we get into it, the less useful these terms seem to be. They also bring up questions of what we expect from our female poets… Show notes The Glass Essay Anne Carson (as ‘notoriously reticent’) For more on … Continue reading "Ep 44. Anne Carson visits Bronte, post-breakup"
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May 7, 2017
Ep 43. Teaching poetry to kids: From bush ballads to YouTube
Did studying poetry at school spark your interest or leave you cold? In this episode I chat with my sister-in-law Terri – a Leading Teacher in a K-12 school who’s a passionate advocate of poetry in the classroom. We hear about what connects, what’s challenging and how she matches poetry with curriculum demands. Show notes Caged Bird by Maya … Continue reading "Ep 43. Teaching poetry to kids: From bush ballads to YouTube"
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Apr 26, 2017
Ep 42. Alan Wearne on Frank Stanford
Talking with Alan Wearne felt like taking a poetry masterclass. The poet Alan chose was Arkansas land surveyor and prolific writer Frank Stanford, who may well enchant you if you’re not careful. We look at his work from all sorts of angles and cover just about everyone from Ted Berrigan to Benjamin Frater, Gig Ryan, Joyce, Browning, the term … Continue reading "Ep 42. Alan Wearne on Frank Stanford"
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Apr 16, 2017
Ep 41. The unknown poet of Malvern
Even the editors of poetry anthologies feel uncomfortable about the format at times. I’ve now discovered there’s at least one poet, maybe still living somewhere in Melbourne, who’s happy to take matters into their own hands. Show notes Black Inc’s Best Australian Poems 2013 edited by Lisa Gorton Post It by Gig Ryan published in Cordite
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Apr 6, 2017
Ep 40. Ellen O’Brien’s poem for late night Google searches
As a First Nations poet, Ellen O’Brien says Alison Whittaker’s poem ‘Willi Willi Will I’ from Lemons in the Chicken Wire speaks directly to her experience of doing late night research into family history. We take a close look at the poem before getting into questions about making compromises in writing, finding your primary motivation, accepting rejection and whether … Continue reading "Ep 40. Ellen O’Brien’s poem for late night Google searches"
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Mar 27, 2017
Ep 39. Rhea Bhagat on Dubai and Robin Coste Lewis
I had a lot of fun talking with Melbourne-based writer and spoken word artist Rhea Bhagat for this episode on Robin Coste Lewis’s poem On the Road to Sri Bhuvaneshwari. We covered plenty of ground… Show notes Rhea’s article Daba (excerpt) from The Lifted Brow’s Capital issue Rhea’s Overland piece Cashmere and the politics of the brown body Typecast as a … Continue reading "Ep 39. Rhea Bhagat on Dubai and Robin Coste Lewis"
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Mar 15, 2017
Ep 38. To get the news from poems
‘It is difficult to get the news from poems yet men die every day for lack of what is found there.’ A few thoughts on poetry and the news along with a must-listen poetry podcast. Show notes Episode 18 of Commonplace Talk by Terrance Hayes Asphodel, That Greeny Flower by William Carlos Williams Williams’s “Asphodel, That … Continue reading "Ep 38. To get the news from poems"
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Mar 6, 2017
Ep 37. Magdalena Ball on Samuel Wagan Watson
Compulsive reader (and ModPo classmate) Magdalena Ball chats with me about the event that stopped her latest novel in its tracks and resulted in her new collection of poetry – Unmaking Atoms. We also take a close look at Samuel Wagan Watson’s intriguing poem A one ended boomerang. Show notes The Newcastle Writers Festival More about … Continue reading "Ep 37. Magdalena Ball on Samuel Wagan Watson"
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Feb 27, 2017
Ep 36. Poetry basics: It doesn’t even rhyme!
People have complicated feelings about rhyme. Today I’m looking at seven types of rhyme based on Poetry Foundation’s glossary to see how cringeworthy it really is. Show notes Marionette by Jessica Wilkinson (Vagabond Press, 2012) Broken/Open by Jill Jones (Salt, 2005) Revolving Days by David Malouf (UQP, 2008) Free Will and the Clouds by Rob Wilson … Continue reading "Ep 36. Poetry basics: It doesn’t even rhyme!"
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Feb 20, 2017
Ep 35. Corey Wakeling: Having fun with the ANZAC
Two larrikins asking what you’re into, Merlions toasting at your table, a pig showing off – Australia is pretty hilarious when you think about it… I’m so grateful to Corey Wakeling for walking me through the fantastic Michael Farrell poem ‘An Australian Comedy’ in this episode, which you can find in his 2015 collection Cocky’s Joy. We also … Continue reading "Ep 35. Corey Wakeling: Having fun with the ANZAC"
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Feb 13, 2017
Ep 34. Poetry basics: Got rhythm?
When my friend asked me to explain how rhythm works in poetry I thought I’d have no trouble…until I opened my poetry encyclopedia. Show notes The New Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics Looking at rhythm and meter in poetry – Poetry for Dummies The Violence of Work – Geoff Goodfellow Observation – Dorothy Parker Mending … Continue reading "Ep 34. Poetry basics: Got rhythm?"
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Feb 6, 2017
Ep 33. Jessica Wilkinson on poetic biography
How do you tell a life story through a poem? For Jessica Wilkinson, poetry can go much further than straightforward biography. In this interview she talks about discovering Susan Howe, working with (not against) a self-confessed short attention span, and founding the fantastic Rabbit poetry journal. Show notes Beyond Facts and Accuracies in Axon Marionette and … Continue reading "Ep 33. Jessica Wilkinson on poetic biography"
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Jan 30, 2017
Ep 32. Cid Corman’s poetry of blank spaces
Cid Corman isn’t afraid to ask unanswerable questions or to leave most of a page blank. In today’s episode he’s asking the question straight up: ‘Is this a poem?’ Show notes Join us for SlowPo 2017 Recordings of Cid’s reading group at CC’s in Kyoto It isn’t / what you think… It always / comes down … Continue reading "Ep 32. Cid Corman’s poetry of blank spaces"
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Jan 23, 2017
Ep 31. Robin Wallace-Crabbe: ‘Art can be a lot of fun’
Robin Wallace-Crabbe describes himself as ‘a dear little old man’ but I’m sure you won’t be fooled by that for long. Welcome back to Poetry Says for 2017 and welcome to the world of Hartmann Wallis, poet and white lightning enthusiast. Show notes Who said what, exactly by Hartmann Wallis (Finlay Lloyd, 2016) and Peter … Continue reading "Ep 31. Robin Wallace-Crabbe: ‘Art can be a lot of fun’"
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Dec 19, 2016
Ep 30. A restless Christmas
In my final episode before taking a Christmas break I invite you to be part of the show in 2017 and to check out this close reading of Charles Bernstein’s In a Restless World Like This is, recorded with the wonderful Eleanor Smagarinsky.
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Dec 13, 2016
Ep 29. ‘This is what happens when you cease your management.’
A little more Maggie Nelson for you today to follow on from my chat with Tricia Dearborn. Molly Silverstein brings us The Mute Story of November, another beautiful poem from Something Bright, Then Holes (listen to Maggie reading the poem here). We chat about Buddhist and Whitmanian angles on the poem (yep, Molly is a new ModPo … Continue reading "Ep 29. ‘This is what happens when you cease your management.’"
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Dec 6, 2016
Ep 28. Poetry spoilers
In today’s episode you get to hear how Judi Dench says the word ‘poetry’, Kelsey Grammer butchering Tennyson, everyone piling on e e cummings, William Carols Williams quoted by hackers and Eileen Myles being…Eileen Myles. Today’s links: Ulysses by Tennyson anyone lived in a pretty how town by e e cummings The Red Wheelbarrow by William Carlos Williams I … Continue reading "Ep 28. Poetry spoilers"
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Nov 28, 2016
Ep 27. Tricia Dearborn on relaxing about writing
Talking to Tricia Dearborn was a really good reality check for a stress bunny writer like myself. We covered everything from routine to writing last lines, along with Tricia’s connection to chemistry, favourite poets like Vicki Feaver, and definitions of ecopoetry. Tricia brings us Maggie Nelson’s poem ‘Green’ from Something Bright, Then Holes (check out Maggie’s interview on creativity here). This links up with one of Tricia’s new poems that’s about to … Continue reading "Ep 27. Tricia Dearborn on relaxing about writing"
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Nov 21, 2016
Ep 26. R D Wood on the possibility of Australia
R D Wood spoke to me from his vantage point in Kerala about the idea of Australia, the house of poetry, the ethics of being a writer and whether politicians can be poetic (and poets Machiavellian). We also talk about his poem In the Desert – its creation and the response it received – along with Ted … Continue reading "Ep 26. R D Wood on the possibility of Australia"
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Nov 14, 2016
Ep 25. An Australian in New York
Reeling from the US election while in New York City, I reflect on the poems, books and poetic communities that suddenly became essential this week: Jaap Blonk’s What the president will say and do Jena Osman’s Dropping Leaflets My post-election call to the ModPo hotline (tissues at the ready!) at the Kelly Writers House Lou Carter’s … Continue reading "Ep 25. An Australian in New York"
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Nov 7, 2016
Ep 24. Rob Wilson on poetically killing the PM
Rob Wilson’s Free Will and the Clouds received plenty of love when it came out, for good reason. Today I chat with Rob about how he comes up with his bizarre titles, why he teaches The Red Wheelbarrow to prisoners, and what he does to support his writing. We also listen to a poem by Rob’s … Continue reading "Ep 24. Rob Wilson on poetically killing the PM"
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Oct 31, 2016
Ep 23. Jill Jones gets back to work
Jill Jones describes herself as a ‘poet person living quietly in Adelaide‘. Today I look into her poem Back at work after the flu (from her 1993 book ‘Flagging Down Time’). What does it say about the work poets do and the way this work happens alongside an ever-present day job?
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Oct 24, 2016
Ep 22. R. A. Villanueva: chance, race and games
A thought-provoking chat with R.A. Villanueva, author of Reliquaria, after we’d seen some fantastic readings at National Poetry Day Live. We cover plenty of ground, starting off with the influence of slam, intentional vs accidental ways of becoming a writer and the idea of priming yourself to take advantage of opportunities. Then we get into a great discussion … Continue reading "Ep 22. R. A. Villanueva: chance, race and games"
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Oct 17, 2016
Ep 21. Adrienne Rich’s anger and tenderness
‘She got swept too far. She deliberately made herself ugly and wrote those extreme and ridiculous poems.’ Adrienne Rich lived enough for at least two lifetimes and not everyone was happy about it. Today’s episode looks at the poem Integrity from A Wild Patience Has Taken Me This Far: Poems 1978-1981. I also pull some context from Boundary … Continue reading "Ep 21. Adrienne Rich’s anger and tenderness"
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Oct 11, 2016
Ep 20. Sophie Mayer on the interconnectedness of everything
A few weeks ago I went along to the Free Verse Poetry Book Fair and saw the panel ‘Poetry and Politics’ with Choman Hardi, WN Herbert, RA Villanueva and Sophie Mayer. Sophie and I then took the conversation off-road. After we cover off interconnectedness, I have a quick whinge about Carol Ann Duffy’s poem Silver Lining. We then … Continue reading "Ep 20. Sophie Mayer on the interconnectedness of everything"
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Sep 27, 2016
Ep 19. Hannah Gamble and the bear of secret desires
Today I dive into my favourite poem from the last five years: Hannah Gamble’s funny and haunting Growing a Bear. I also detour into a classic Cary Tennis column: I’m going crazy in my job. Hannah is a poetry editor for Catch Up among many other good things. Hear her discussing her work on Make (No) Bones (out of Chicago, not Brooklyn!). … Continue reading "Ep 19. Hannah Gamble and the bear of secret desires"
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Sep 20, 2016
Ep. 18 SB Wright on dedicating a year to poetry
This week South Australian poet SB Wright gets real about the fact that perfect poetry doesn’t happen the moment the pen hits the page. Sean’s spending a year focusing on poetry, which leads us to Ira Glass’s advice on the gap between taste and ability, William Stafford’s A Way of Writing, fixed vs. growth mindsets and Jo Bell’s poetry checklist. After looking … Continue reading "Ep. 18 SB Wright on dedicating a year to poetry"
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Sep 13, 2016
Ep 17. Approaching Olena: A minor poet?
A grab-bag of thoughts about the awe-inspiring (but not at all intimidating) Olena Kalytiak Davis and my ideas on how to approach a poet/poem for the first time. Check out: You and Me Both by Dan Chiasson in The New Yorker The Poem She Didn’t Write and Other Poems published by Copper Canyon Press, 2014 I had a Ski-Masked Rapist … Continue reading "Ep 17. Approaching Olena: A minor poet?"
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Sep 6, 2016
Ep. 16 Benjamin Dodds on the joy of surreal, skewed poetry
This week I had fun chatting to Sydney-based poet Benjamin Dodds, author of Regulator published by Puncher and Wattman. We get a window into his current project about ‘ethically troubling scientific discoveries’, then hear the prose poem Ape by Russell Edson. (Put down your breakfast while listening to this one.) Benjamin also reads his beautiful poem Surrogacy. Next we cover how he shares … Continue reading "Ep. 16 Benjamin Dodds on the joy of surreal, skewed poetry"
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Aug 30, 2016
Ep 15. Getting into poetry: 5 starting points
This week I’m attempting to answer a listener question: How do I get into poetry? Poems in this week’s episode: Stopping by woods on a snowy evening by Robert Frost One Art by Elizabeth Bishop Burning Sappho by Gwen Harwood Lucky by Dorothy Porter praise song by Nate Marshall Bonus poems (if you’ve got other ideas … Continue reading "Ep 15. Getting into poetry: 5 starting points"
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Aug 23, 2016
Ep 14. Lisa Brockwell on ‘girlhood as a place of strength’
This week I got to talk with Lisa Brockwell about three poems that play with the theme of ‘the girl in the poet and the poet in the girl’. We also cover why it’s important to keep reading even when the poems go quiet, the question of poetry ‘scenes’ and, importantly, HBO’s Looking. This week’s poems: Glamourie by Kathleen Jamie … Continue reading "Ep 14. Lisa Brockwell on ‘girlhood as a place of strength’"
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Aug 16, 2016
Ep 13. Edward Thomas: Remembering and misremembering
This week I make a case for the short WWI poem Adelstrop by Edward Thomas. Then things get a little experimental as I try to answer the question: How does this poem operate in 2016? (Mild spoilers towards the end for Helen Macdonald’s beautiful memoir H is for Hawk.) If you’re keen to go deeper into … Continue reading "Ep 13. Edward Thomas: Remembering and misremembering"
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Aug 9, 2016
Ep 12. Robbie Coburn on banned books, Larkin, Pi O and poetry addiction
You might already know Robbie Coburn as co-host of the fantastic Australian Poetry Podcast (a must listen for AusPo fans). Today Robbie tells us his own story, from his first publication in Pi O’s Unusual Work to his recent appearance in Poetry magazine. The poem we dive into this week is High Windows by Phillip Larkin, followed by a sneak peak of Robbie’s forthcoming … Continue reading "Ep 12. Robbie Coburn on banned books, Larkin, Pi O and poetry addiction"
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Aug 2, 2016
Ep. 11 Stuart Barnes on Harwood, Plath, centos and Glasshouses
In today’s bumper episode I get to have an in-depth chat with Queensland-based poet Stuart Barnes. We cover how he came to poetry through none other than Tasmanian poet Gwen Harwood, then dive into Sylvia Plath’s poem Ariel. We also talk about the art of the remix poem, how to write a cento, and the upcoming launch of … Continue reading "Ep. 11 Stuart Barnes on Harwood, Plath, centos and Glasshouses"
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Jul 27, 2016
Ep 10. Ted Berrigan: Poem as photo album
The wonderful PoemTalk podcast tackled Ted Berrigan’s 3 Pages back in 2008. For this episode, I’m jumping in with my own interpretation of this ever-shifting poem. Listen to Berrigan’s amazing reading here. And if you have your own ideas about this (or any other) poem, get in touch.
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Jul 20, 2016
Ep. 9 Loma writes for Orlando, Whitman speaks through time
Since reading All the dead boys look like me, a poem for Orlando by Christopher Soto (aka Loma), I’ve understood the tragedy that happened there in an entirely new way. I’ve also been thinking about Walt Whitman’s all-encompassing poem Crossing Brooklyn Ferry – a poem that seems to have no boundaries. If you like the sound … Continue reading "Ep. 9 Loma writes for Orlando, Whitman speaks through time"
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Jul 12, 2016
Ep 8. Louise Carter on Duffy, Davies, doubt and humour
I had a blast talking to Sydney-based poet Louise Carter today about UK poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy and Australian poet Luke Davies. We cover everything from self-doubt to housemates, how copywriting sometimes leads to poetry and what it’s like to have tea with your poetry idol. For bonus points, check out: Louise’s wonderful blog alone with beauty and … Continue reading "Ep 8. Louise Carter on Duffy, Davies, doubt and humour"
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Jul 6, 2016
Ep 7. Michele Seminara on Bishop: The internal battle
This week I got to talk to Australian poet Michele Seminara about Elizabeth Bishop’s mysterious, insistent poem Giant Snail. (Bishop’s One Art and Filling Station also pop up.) Michele is the managing editor of the online creative arts journal Verity La and the author of Engraft, which came out earlier this year. Want to share your best-loved poem with … Continue reading "Ep 7. Michele Seminara on Bishop: The internal battle"
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Jun 29, 2016
Ep 6. Judith Wright: When your conscience catches up with you
‘Appreciation of poetry, one out of 10 or whatever it might be, is quite alien to what a poet feels about poetry.’ So says Judith Wright, a poet I’ve avoided far longer than I want to admit… Read today’s poem Eroded Hills, check out the Guardian’s obituary for Wright and learn more about her at the Judith … Continue reading "Ep 6. Judith Wright: When your conscience catches up with you"
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Jun 22, 2016
Ep 5. Basho: It’s ok to fail at mindfulness
If the proliferation of posters, t-shirts, mugs and grocery bags urging you towards ‘mindfulness’ is starting to grate, 17th century haiku master Basho has your back in today’s episode. Read Jane Hirshfield’s beautiful translation or check out the Japanese version (which I stuffed up by pronouncing the first character ‘Kyoto’ instead of ‘Kyo’…here’s a Japanese cuckoo to make up for … Continue reading "Ep 5. Basho: It’s ok to fail at mindfulness"
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Jun 15, 2016
Ep 4. Cristina Haraba on Eminescu: Bohemian? Conservative? Buddhist?
At first, Romania’s national poet Mihai Eminescu seems like your standard tragic Romantic poet. But as Cristina Haraba explains, he’s much actually much more human than that. Read today’s poem With life’s tomorrow time you grasp and find out more about its translator Corneliu M. Popescu and the Popescu Prize.
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Jun 8, 2016
Ep 3. Jane Kenyon: Happiness is a sly dog
Happiness was part of my life for years before I took the time to understand the poet who wrote it. Now it’s an even closer friend. Definitely read the non-mangled text of The Clothes Pin, then make some tea and read Donald Hall’s essay on life with Jane, The Third Thing.
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Jun 1, 2016
Ep 2. Sonya Tsakalakis: The courage of Charlotte Mew
This week I had the pleasure of chatting with Melbourne-based bibliotherapist Sonya Tsakalakis about Charlotte Mew’s poem The Call. Describing Mew’s life as ‘tragic’ doesn’t quite cover it. She lost family members to physical and mental illness, struggled against Victorian values as an all but closeted lesbian, and ended her life alone. Yet this poem is anything … Continue reading "Ep 2. Sonya Tsakalakis: The courage of Charlotte Mew"
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May 26, 2016
Ep 1. Gertrude Stein: Listen in case of emergency
Gertrude Stein still makes people feel angry, unsettled and scared. She’s powerful. But sometimes she can also be comforting. Today’s poem is Let Us Describe – hear Stein read the whole thing over at the Poetry Foundation.
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