Poetry Unbound

Poetry Unbound host Padraig O'Tooma interviews Hala Liza Ghaffori about translating Rumi, the 13th-century Persian poet whose life crossed present-day Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Turkey.

Poetry Unbound host Padraig O'Toolema interviews Adrian Matica about how DJing, jazz, bilingual childhood experience, and bodily movement shape his poems.

Pádraig Ó Tuama presents a bonus episode of Poetry Unbound, featuring Walter de la Mare's poem 'The Listeners.' He reads the poem, analyzes its themes of mystery and bearing witness, and shares personal anecdotes about memorizing it as a child.

Padraig O'Tooma opens with a personal story about David Clare giving him Leonard Cohen's Book of Mercy in Dublin, then says another friend, Peter Wilson, borrowed a copy and kept it.

Padraig O'Tooma opens by describing a meditation practice from his late 20s that unexpectedly led him to happiness rather than pain.

A former school chaplain reflects on moments when young people felt respected, leading to personal transformation, followed by a poetic recitation about diverse meat consumption.

This episode reflects on poetry, memory, and the deeper meanings of love and hope through personal anecdotes and the work of poet Lena Khalaf Tuffaha.

This episode explores how poetry uses space, pauses, and omissions to create meaning and reflection, featuring Rachel Mann's poem "#TDOR" about remembrance.

Pádraig Ó Tuama explores the etymology of Irish weekday names related to fasting and introduces a poem about Ramadan.

Host Padraig O'Tuama introduces and reads the poem 'Prayer' by Kevin Hart, sharing the personal story of how he discovered it.

Host Padraig O'Tuama introduces a poem about tofu and explores the theme of multiple interpretations in language.

Host Padraig O'Tuama introduces the 10th season of Poetry Unbound and reflects on how poetry helped people during COVID, then begins reading 'How to Speak Love in a Storm' by Stuart Henderson.

Host Padraig O'Tuama introduces a poem about theology and welcome, reflecting on speaking Irish to newborns.

Padraig O'Tooma reads Oksana Maximchuk's "Arguments for Peace" and starts with the odd clarity war can give people.

Host Padraig Otuma introduces the poem 'Coming Out of the Shower' by Armin Davoudian, discussing rhyme and meter before reading the poem.

Host Padraig O'Tuama reflects on phrases that irritate him and introduces the poem 'Grace' by Orlando Ricardo Menes, exploring its meaning.

Host Pádraig Ó Tuama introduces a poem by Cyrus Cassells about jasmine in Rome, reflecting on how sensory experiences like smell can transport us to past memories.

Host Padraig O'Tuama explores W.S.

The speaker recounts a personal experience of observing geckos licking blueberries on a balcony in Maui, reflecting on how this simple daily ritual expanded their sense of time and connection to nature, as recorded in a journal entry by Kimberly Blaeser.

This episode features an interview with poet Marie Howe discussing her Pulitzer Prize-winning work and reading poems on themes like saints, sex, time, and love.

Dante arrives in Jamaican voice.

Pádraig Ó Tuama analyzes Denise Duhamel's poem 'How It Will End,' which depicts a married couple watching a lifeguard and his girlfriend argue.

Host Pádraig Ó Tuama introduces a poem by Fadi Jouda that uses silence, reflecting on a BBC moment where Rowan Williams paused for six seconds.

Host Pádraig Ó Tuama discusses how different professions have unique vocabularies and uses Benjamin Zephaniah's poem about Michael Menson to illustrate incorporating legal language into poetry.

The host introduces his personal journey with poetry and reads a poem about identity and the creative impulse.

Host Pádraig Ó Tuama introduces a poem about an unexpected moment in a car service waiting room, exploring themes of connection and surprise.

Host Padraig O'Tuama reflects on his complex relationship with religion and introduces a poem about a lousy nun, exploring hidden desires.

Host Padraig O'Tuama introduces the poem 'Inheritance' by Diego Baez, exploring how poems invite personal connection and reflection.

Padraig O'Tuama introduces a poem about parenting and nature, reflecting on the complexities of love and letting go.

Host Pádraig Ó Tuama introduces a poem about encountering the dead in everyday life, reflecting on grief and memory.

Host Padraig O'Tuama introduces a love poem by Francisco X.

Host Pádraig Ó Tuama reflects on landscape and memory before reading and discussing Conor Kerr's poem 'Winter Songs'.

Padraig O'Tuama introduces a poem by Valencia Robin about a childhood memory of his father's hunger, exploring themes of family and need.

Padraig O'Tuama introduces a poem about a dung beetle finding its way home, reflecting on a personal argument with his father.

This episode features a conversation between Krista Tippett and poet Clint Smith exploring how words carry wisdom about memory and emotion being physically lodged in us.

This bonus episode features an interview with acclaimed poet Henri Cole, discussing his poetry collections, awards, and insights into language and craft at the 2022 Dodge Poetry Festival.

Permission is not the question.