February Quote of the Month

"Dick's duck dived as deep as Dick's dog dug"

From 'Dick's Dog' by Trevor Millum

Read Me and Laugh

Poems chosen by Gaby Morgan,

Macmillan Children's Books , London, 2005

20+ Poetry Things You Could Do Today

1) Firstly check out poets reading their poems at: Bob and Poetry.com: Short poetry clips - YouTube

For longer readings and films see: Bob and Poetry.com: Readings On YouTube - YouTube

I add to these playlists all the time so do keep checking.

2) (From Plume | Online Poetry Magazine)

December Edition Issue no. 160 Available

"In brief, Plume is a magazine dedicated to publishing the very best of contemporary poetry. To that end, we will be highly selective, offering twelve poems per monthly issue."

There is an extensive archive to enjoy, too

For this edition see: Plume Issue #160 December 2024

3) (From Of Poetry Podcast – Kitchen table conversations with poets)

Episode 63: River River Books (Of Writing the Rural, New Book News, and the CAHABA River) – Of Poetry Podcast

"River River Books was founded by Amorak Huey and Han VanderHart in March 2022. Inspired by the idea that you cannot step in the same river twice, at River River Books, two poetry editors join together to publish (at least) two exceptional poetry titles a year. By limiting our press catalogue, we commit to supporting our authors and their books with focused attention and joy.

Submissions (fee optional) open to full-length poetry manuscripts May 1-June 30."

See Episode 63: River River Books (Of Writing the Rural, New Book News, and the CAHABA River) – Of Poetry Podcast

4) (From Carol Rumens's poem of the week | Books | The Guardian website page)

Carol Rumens' Poem of the Week

A faultlessly consistent article in a national newspaper, and always available online, too.

See Poem of the week: Poem of the week: The Jackdaw by William Cowper | Poetry | The Guardian

5) (From Our Content — Home Stage website)

Meet the Poet: Lewis Buxton - YouTube

"Meet Lewis Buxton: Norfolk-based poet, performer and co-director of Norwich’s largest regular poetry night, TOAST. In this episode of Meet the Poet Lewis discusses his debut poetry collection Boy in Various Poses. This collection explores the complexity of gender and boyhood with tenderness, humour and punch - and, in following the ever curious and changing figure of ‘Boy’, Lewis questions what it means to become a man."

First available to watch on Facebook and YouTube on Wednesday, 26 July 2023.

Go to Meet the Poet: Lewis Buxton - YouTube

Once you have watched this episode there is 41 more to watch at Meet the Poet - YouTube

For further Home Stage videos see: Home Stage - YouTube

6) (From Poetry Non-Stop (poetrynonstop.com) website)

Poetry Month at Poetry Non-Stop

"Poetry Non-Stop is back with a poet who is no stranger to the podcast. Will Ingrams talks about the importance of rhythm in poetry and shares some of his work."

Go to News – Poetry Non-Stop (poetrynonstop.com)

Here all the episodes at NaPoWriMo Poetry Non-Stop (soundcloud.com)

7) (From Tin House website)

Between The Covers

Between the covers is a literary radio show and podcast hosted by David Naimon, is brought to you by Tin House. These long-form in-depth conversations have been singled out by the Guardian, Book Riot, the Financial Times, and BuzzFeed as one of the most notable book podcasts for writers and readers around.

For Between the Covers Podcasts visit Between the Covers Podcast - Tin House

For the most recent poetry book based podcast see: Danez Smith : Bluff - Tin House

8) (From Poetry Extra webpage )

Poetry Please - Midwinter

Daljit Nagra revisits the BBC's poetry archive.

"Roger McGough explores the archives to find the most evocative winter poems by Thomas Hardy, Miroslav Holub, Robert Frost and Shakespeare. Read by some of our best actors including: Juliet Stevenson, Dame Harriet Walter Hugh Laurie. With Steeleye Span and Bert Jansch.

Producer: Sally Heaven. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2016."

See: Poetry Extra - Poetry Please - Midwinter - BBC Sounds

9) (From The Buzz – The Hive Poetry Collective Website)

The Hive Poetry Collective: S5: E37 Jeannine Hall Gailey talks with Dion O'Reilly

"The Hive radio show is broadcast on KSQD, 90.7 FM Community Radio in Santa Cruz on Sunday nights from 8pm-9pm. The Hive Poetry Collective is a buzz of poets in Santa Cruz, California— a swarm of radio conversations, public readings, and writing workshops. "

Hear the most recent podcast posted 30 November, 2023.

See S5:E37 Jeannine Hall Gailey talks with Dion O'Reilly by S5: E37 Jeannine Hall Gailey talks with Dion O'Reilly

10) (From West Wilts Radio)

The Poetry Place (Click for archive)

"The Poetry Place is a monthly poetry magazine programme bringing you news, views, readings and interviews from today’s poetry community, both locally and further afield. Presented by Dawn Gorman and Peter O’Grady, it brings inspiration and food for thought for everyone, from those who enjoy listening to the occasional poem, to people writing and publishing their own work.

There's a new episode on the last Sunday of every month, with repeats from the archive on the other Sundays of the month. Repeated every Sunday, @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm"

Hear the most recent new edition first broadcast on 26 November, 2023 at : The Poetry Place with Rachael Clyne & Vic Pickup #47-26/11/23 – West Wilts Radio

11) (From Rattle: Poetry)

Critique of the Week: A Live Video Workshop

"It’s hard to find honest feedback about your work, but knowing how your poems are actually landing is more useful than any other advice a poet can get ... so we’d like to extend that experience to anyone who is interested.

With Critique of the Week, we’ll workshop several poems publicly each week, via Facebook and YouTube. Participants will get a chance to hear how the Rattle editors would encounter a poem if it were a submission and offer suggestions for improvement. Everyone is then welcome to join in the discussion in the video’s comments section, providing their own thoughts and feedback. Even if you don’t want to share your own poems, it should be an excellent learning opportunity for everyone who watches.

To participate, just use the Critique of the Week category on Submittable. Every active submission there will automatically be entered into a live drawing at the end of each month for the next round of participants. In the meantime, be sure to follow us on Facebook and/or subscribe to our YouTube Channel so that you don’t miss any of the critiques."

For more information see: Critique of the Week | Rattle: Poetry

Or see the latest live streamed event at : Rattlecast

Or read the latest daily poem at: Rattle: Poetry

(I sign up to the email daily post and strongly recommend it.)

12) (From Eat The Storms website)

Eat the Storms – The Podcast Podcast – Episode 14 – Season 7

Podcast available on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, OverCast, Player FM, Radio Public, PocketCast, CastBox, iTunes, Podbean, Podcast Addicts and many more platforms.

This episode of Season 7 aired first on Saturday 16th September 2023, produced and hosted by Damien B. Donnelly. Below are details and links to the guest stars… Linda Drattell

Visit: Eat the Storms – The Podcast Podcast – Episode 14 – Season 7 – Storm Shelter

13) (From Seren Books newsletter)

Seren Poetry Podcast: Judy Brown: 'Lairs'

"In this edition we talk to Judy Brown about her third collection ‘Lairs’. Describing it as the ‘angriest’ of her three books so far, Judy discusses the lair as a place of restriction or a confined space, her residency at Exeter University’s Institute of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, and other underlying themes from the book such as ‘pivotal change’.."

See Judy Brown: 'Lairs' (buzzsprout.com)

First published on 3 December 2023.

For the library of Seren Poetry Podcasts see: The Seren Poetry Podcast

See all the podcasts at Alternative Stories and Fake Realities (buzzsprout.com)

14) (From Verse Ottawa )

VerseFest 2023

'MISS ANY OF VERSEFEST 2023 in March? Catch the things you missed in our videos'

See Videos of Past Events (verseottawa.ca)

15) (From BBC Radio 3 - The Verb Website)

Joyce Carol Oates

Ian McMillan presents a special extended interview with Joyce Carol Oates, one of the most prolific and pre-eminent American writers of the 20th century. Now 85, Oates is the author of 62 novels, 47 short story collections, poetry volumes, plays, essays, and criticism. Her latest book is the unsettling short-story collection 'Zero-Sum'.

Presenter: Ian McMillan

Broadcast on 1 December, 2023.

See : The Verb - Joyce Carol Oates - BBC Sounds

Though this has slipped quite far down my list for no particular reason, The Verb is one of my favourite shows on radio and is available in podcast form. There is an archive of 215 episodes available: BBC Radio 3 - The Verb - Available now

16) (From New York Times website)

Reading poetry with the poem column

In this edition of our series on learning with New York Times columns, we’re inviting you to read and emulate The New York Times Magazine’s Poem column. Every week, the magazine publishes a new poem, which is chosen and introduced by a poet-editor, like Victoria Chang, Reginald Dwayne Betts or Naomi Shihab Nye.

In this lesson, you’ll read a poem from the column and see how the editors make their choices, as well as how they analyse and make connections to each poem. Then, you’ll choose your own poem to read and write a paragraph explaining what it means to you.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/28/learning/lesson-plans/reading-poetry-with-the-poem-column.html

The New York Times also does a poem a week - which can be seen without subscribing at: Poem - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

17) (From Ó Bhéal website)

Enter the 2023/2024 (11th) competition, which will run for 42 weeks.

The 2023/2024 (11th) competition will run for 42 weeks.

Every Tuesday at 12pm (Irish time) from 11th April 2023 – 30th January 2024, five words will be posted on this competition page. Entrants will have one week to compose and submit one or more poems which include all five words given for that week.

A prize of 750 euros will be awarded to the winner, plus 500 euros for second place and 250 euros for third place. These three, if available will be invited to read at Ó Bhéal’s seventeenth anniversary (hybrid) event, on Monday the 8th of April 2024. Should winners be able to attend in person, then an additional travel fee of 100 euro plus B&B accommodation will be provided for this. The overall winner also receives a physical award, hand-crafted by acclaimed glass artist (and poet) Michael Ray.

The shortlisted poems and winning entry will also be published in Five Words Vol XVII – the anthology of five word poems to be launched at the same event. A shortlist of twelve poems including the overall winner will be announced by the first week of March 2024.

Entry is open to all countries. Poems cannot exceed 50 lines in length (including line breaks), and must include all five words listed for the week.

A modicum of poetic license is acceptable. As long as the original spelling is intact, you’re welcome to extend, pluralise or even split any word to appear across two adjacent words, even if its original meaning becomes altered.

Poems should be newly written, during this 7-day period. There is no limit to volume of entries, although each payment and submission should be made separately.

NB** Entrants should be at least 18 years of age at the date of submission.

Entries to be sent no later than 12pm on the relevant Tuesday.

Submissions carry a 5 euro entrance fee.

For more information see: Welcome to Ó Bhéal - Fáilte go dtí Ó Bhéal (obheal.ie)

18) (From Moving Poems website)

Watch the Best Poetry Videos on the Web

The latest when I looked: Orion by Maria Vella | Moving Poems

"Atmospheric and experimental, Orion is by Maria Vella in Victoria, Australia. The soundtrack is abstract, incorporating just a few distorted lines of ‘found audio’ from NASA. The strobing stream of personal images creates the sense of poetry without words."

Regularly updated there's 2191 videos (and counting) to see at Videopoems | Moving Poems

19) (From T.S. Eliot website)

T.S. Eliot Prize

The T.S. Eliot Prize shortlist for 2023 has now been announced, and videos of all the nominees will follow. Every year of the prize I have enjoyed watching the poets read from their book, and say a little about themselves.

See: Videos – The T. S. Eliot Prize 2023 (tseliot.com)

See the whole amazing archive at T. S. Eliot Prize - YouTube

20) (From London Review Bookshop website)

New Faber Poetry

"Poetry from four of the most exciting poets at work today. Declan Ryan reads from Crisis Actor, his long-awaited debut of failures and farewells, alternating (in the words of Kate Kellaway) ‘between the pugilistic and the becalmed’. Maggie Millner’s novel in verse, Couplets, is a unique story of queer desire, the couplet form beautifully embodying the narrative. Hannah Sullivan reads from her second collection, Was It for This, poems exploring different visions of home, motherhood and London. And Nick Laird reads from Up Late, the title poem of which won last year’s Forward Prize for Best Single Poem."

Hear this podcast at: New Faber Poetry | London Review Bookshop

For lots of past videos and podcasts (not exclusively poetry) see: Podcasts & video | London Review Bookshop

21) (From The Poetry Programme - RTÉ Radio 1 (rte.ie) website)

The Poetry Programme

"Olivia O'Leary explores the diverse and vibrant world of poets and poetry. For everyone who loves poetry. And those who just don't know it yet.

The Poetry Programme Sunday 25 December 2022

Olivia O'Leary hosts the hour-long Christmas 2022 Poetry Programme.

This year's Christmas programme, presented in collaboration with Poetry Ireland, features readings and conversation with Caitríona Ní Chléirchín, Barry Devlin, Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin and Andrew Bennett, and music from DCU Lumen Chorale. The programme was recorded before a live audience in Belvedere House, St Patrick's, Drumcondra, part of the campus of DCU. Poetry Ireland is temporarily based at St Patrick's while works are ongoing at their city centre headquarters."

Broadcast on 25 December 2022.

Hear it at: The Poetry Programme Sunday 25 December 2022 - The Poetry Programme, Christmas Day 2022

Though the show is sadly off-air now, the immense archive is still available to listen to and is recommended.

See The Poetry Programme - RTÉ Radio 1 (rte.ie)

Also see Poetry File - RTÉ Podcasts (rte.ie)

22) (From Bad Lilies)

April 2024 Issue 19

"Bad Lilies is published six times a year and is edited by Kathryn Gray and Andrew Neilson.

We aim to showcase the finest poetry, ranging in technique and subject matter."

See the new issue here: Issue nineteen — Bad Lilies