Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchDemain dès l'aube: Facing the Unspeakable
Episode 56
Today, Erika Kyba reads Victor Hugo's "Demain dès l'aube," a poem about a man who has delayed facing his grief for far too long.
1 year, 1 month ago
America: Perennial With the Earth
Episode 55
Today, Erika Kyba reads Walt Whitman's "America," a distillation of the patriotic spirit that infuses much of Whitman's poetic corpus.
1 year, 1 month ago
Break, Break, Break: When Tragedy Paralyzes
Episode 54
Today, Erika Kyba reads Tennyson's "Break, Break, Break," an intimate portrait of loss and grief. The poem conveys the deadening effect of great sorr…
1 year, 1 month ago
The Ballad of Blasphemous Bill: The Dark Twist
Episode 53
Today, Erika Kyba reads the eerie conclusion of Robert W. Service's "The Ballad of Blasphemous Bill," and proposes some possible interpretations to i…
1 year, 2 months ago
The Poetry Fix: The Ballad of Blasphemous Bill
Episode 53
Today, Erika Kyba reads an excerpt from Robert W. Service’s “The Ballad of Blasphemous Bill,” a poet’s take on the Grateful Dead archetype.
1 year, 2 months ago
The Ballad of Blasphemous Bill: The Grateful Dead
Episode 52
Today, Erika Kyba reads an excerpt from Robert W. Service's "The Ballad of Blasphemous Bill," a poet's take on the Grateful Dead archetype.
1 year, 2 months ago
Aunt Helen: A Damning Silence
Episode 51
Today, Erika Kyba reads T. S. Eliot's "Aunt Helen," a dark meditation on the futility of earthly affairs, and the danger of leaving behind an empty l…
1 year, 2 months ago
Holy Sonnet X: Death be not Proud
Episode 50
Today, Erika Kyba reads John Donne's glorious vaunt against death itself: Holy Sonnet X.
1 year, 3 months ago
At a Solemn Music: Milton vs the Puritans
Episode 49
Today, Erika Kyba reads John Milton's "At a Solemn Music," which subtly engages with Puritan arguments portraying music as evil. Instead, Milton exto…
1 year, 4 months ago
Down by the Salley Gardens: The One that Got Away
Episode 48
Today, Erika Kyba reads W. B. Yeats's "Down by the Salley Gardens," a wistful meditation on lost love and innocence.
1 year, 4 months ago