In this episode of Heart & Soil, Laurie Klein’s podcast of Poems to Listen by, enjoy this reflection on News from the Underground, and how the pesky creatures beneath our feet help restore the soil.
Winter Stars Book Club: Fantasy – “To The Shadows We Return”
In this week’s book club discussion of the short plays in Sonia Barkat’s Winter Stars, Callie Feyen considers the complexities of love and friendship in the fantasy play, “To the Shadows We Return.”
Taking a Scottish Road Trip with Jorge Luis Borges
What was supposed to be an “author-sitting” stint turned into a Scotland road trip for a young grad student and Jorge Luis Borges.
Pandemic Journal: An Entry on the Expansive Space of Home
In the latest Pandemic Journal entry, writer Michelle Ortega reflects on the ways that being ordered to stay home opened up more space for reflection, creativity and new ideas.
Winter Stars Book Club: Tragedy – Winter Stars
In the opening discussion of Sonia Barkat’s collection of 10-minute plays, Winter Stars, Callie Feyen unfolds the epic battle between the Oak and Holly kings.
“30 Poems to Memorize (Before It’s Too Late)” by David Kern
In “30 Poems to Memorize (Before It’s Too Late),” editor David Kern and 13 other contributors remind us of why we love poetry.
Poetry Prompt: Wise Teachers
Wise teachers can be found in unexpected places, like gym parking lots. Join us for a poetry prompt about the people who help us find wisdom.
Children’s Book Club: ‘Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story’
9/11 began with a perfect blue sky. Join author Megan Willome as she reads ‘Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story’ for this month’s Children’s Book Club.
The Poetry Club Tea Date ✨ A Clock in the Square
In this week’s Poetry Club Tea Date, enjoy a new poetry prompt started with a line from The Clock in the Square by Adrienne Rich.
Adjustments Excerpt: The Dinner Party
In this amusing excerpt from Will Willingham’s novel Adjustments, a man and his landlady invite dates for each other to a dinner party, and a ruckus ensues.
Poets and Poems: John Balaban and “Empires”
“Empires” by poet John Balaban mines both human and personal history poetically to ask what creates the idea of the common good.
A Ritual to Read to Each Other: ‘A River Runs Through It’
What makes a story true? We head west for our A Ritual to Read column and enter the river of mystery that is ‘A River Runs Through It.’
5-Minute Refresh: The Door that Opens
Give your soul a 5-minute refresh with this invitation to breathe deeply and meditate on a life-giving line of poetry.
Book Club Announcement: ‘Winter Stars’ by Sonia Barkat
In September, Callie Feyen leads our next book club discussion of Sonia Barkat’s ‘Winter Stars: three 10-minute plays.’ Come play with us.
Resilient Book Club: Part 4—Relating
In the final discussion in our book club of Resilient by Rick Hanson, Laura Boggess leads us in a conversation about Relating, and our inner strengths of courage, aspiration, and generosity.
Words, Music, Voice: Justin Hamm and “Federico Garcia Lorca Blues”
The album “Federico Garcia Lorca Blues” by Justin Hamm combines poetry, music, and voice to create an almost perfect poetic experience.
Poems to Listen By: Heart & Soil—01 What Are Poets For?
In the first episode of a new Poems to Listen By audio series, Laurie Klein shares a poem from Meredith Stricker and asks, What are poets for?
By Heart: ‘The Dandelion’ + New Keats Challenge
The king of August is the dandelion. Join author Megan Willome as she learns Vachel Lindsay’s poem “The Dandelion” by heart.
Poet Laura: Difficult to Forecast
While Tropical Storm Laura heats up in the Atlantic, we add this poem to our Poet Laura collection of “poems about Lauras.”
Resilient Book Club: Part 3—Regulating
In this week’s book club discussion of Rick Hanson’s Resilient, Laura Boggess helps us consider a third way of meeting our needs and building resilience, through regulating our thoughts, feelings, and actions.