Podcast Episodes

Rowan Ricardo Phillips — Never Again Would Birds’ Song Be the Same

Season 7 Episode 4

Have you ever had a private moment — perhaps in the middle of the night — in a large city? When it just seems like it’s you and the great dreaming me…

3 years, 3 months ago

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Alexander Posey — The Dew and the Bird

Season 7 Episode 3

In a poem of strict rhymes and old forms, Alexander Posey (1873-1908), a poet of the Creek Nation, poses challenges to pomposity.

Alexander Posey was …

3 years, 3 months ago

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José Olivarez — No Time to Wait

Season 7 Episode 2

In a church there are liturgies and prayers and statues. But in José Olivarez’s poem, there are more urgent things taking place, things that have “no…

3 years, 3 months ago

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Safia Elhillo — Ode to My Homegirls

Season 7 Episode 1

Friendships deserve praise songs, and here’s a praise song — an ode — to friends that have crossed continents for each other, and would go further if…

3 years, 3 months ago

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Poetry Unbound — Season 7 Trailer

Season 7

Poetry Unbound with host Pádraig Ó Tuama is back on Monday, May 22. Featured poets in this season include Selina Nwulu, Wo Chan, Rowan Ricardo Philli…

3 years, 4 months ago

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Ada Limón with Krista Tippett — “To Be Made Whole”

Season 6 Episode 25

Friends, we are awakening your Poetry Unbound feed for a moment to share this episode from the big, beautiful new season of On Being. And Pádraig’s h…

3 years, 6 months ago

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BONUS: A conversation with Lorna Goodison – and the humans behind Poetry Unbound

Season 6

As part of a celebratory launch party for the new Poetry Unbound book, Pádraig welcomed Lorna Goodison, former Poet Laureate of Jamaica, into a joyfu…

3 years, 8 months ago

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Danusha Laméris — Bonfire Opera

Season 6 Episode 24

A younger woman looks at an older woman, admiring her beauty, skill, and freedom. Older now, she thinks of how hard-won such freedom is. 

Also: singin…

3 years, 9 months ago

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Rumi — You wake the dead to life

Season 6 Episode 23

Who brings you to praise? Rumi’s great poem of praise to the “you” is to his great friend Shams, and through that friendship, to God.

Rumi was a 13th-…

3 years, 9 months ago

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Naomi Shihab Nye — I Feel Sorry for Jesus

Season 6 Episode 22

What’s it like to be owned by the world, to have populations claiming you, to have millions speaking on your behalf? Naomi Shihab Nye takes a close l…

3 years, 9 months ago

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