Ms. Lyric's Poetry Outlaws

The last collage with two verses of a tune by Krummi, a teensy bit of a story about a troll Alda told in the car, my prattle about the residency”s benefits, a long interview with psychologist of the creative brain, Barb Kerr from Kansas, and a poem, yes, I wrote this morning at the creek. Enjoy! Skol!!

Called Turning Back. The profiteering government/aka the dangers of high winds forced the evacuation of a trailer park in 2021-22 in Laugarvatn. What’s left? I find a nest. Recite a creek lyric. I heard a fly buzz when I did not yet die. Enjoy!

One a poet called Latra-Bjorg with a quatrain (1716) and a bit of a song plus the start of a talk about her and the former a famous worker of the sea known as Thurithur (1750) with a minute of a lecture on her. Plus an overview of the strike yesterday and the need for equality and respect and freedom from fear so we can live fully and create. Enjoy!

In which, post our art presentation, in two parts she speaks of the residency, her own history as an artist, feminism, the way artists are treated in Iceland and how she learned poetry. First she recites a bit of Thaw Wind by Stephan G Stephansson and then at the end a short piece from a slim pink book by a young poet called Solveig Thoroddson. Enjoy!

A poem by Jonas Thorbjarnarson but first a clip from the song Human Error by Moskvit whom I danced to last night and a chat about things I’ve noticed in Iceland about language, driving and attitude. Enjoy!

Called Wintering. She’s an American poet who was in residency at Gullkistan and whose book I found here! Plus what I do every day. And the rain. Enjoy!

I talk about my day trip to Vik and Skogafoss and first play a recording of a 1750-1800 song about Hella and her drowned child, then read from a piece about Icelandic poetry as it relates to nationhood, and then end with a rawlings teaching us Icelandic by using the word for glacier. Enjoy!

There is a cat in here and birds and some emotion and Gluck reading her poppy poem and me reading her mock orange one and critiquing her poetry a bit and thanking her for her life in art.

One based on an old Norse poem translated into Icelandic and English and the other my lyric of the day called Species. About the wind. Which is making me tired. But hey, life goes on. Enjoy!

Called North in first her Icelandic and later my English. With chat in between about my migraine, reviewing and the hostel yesterday! Enjoy!!

Called First Snow and a storm and the weather and an interruption and talk of forms and notions of simplicity and happy anniversary to my parents! Enjoy :)

Also the conclusion (for now?) of the Fiddlehead-gate review scandal. I talk of spas and firepits and crepes and read a stokkur quatrain in Icelandic and English called To the Mountains.

Called Icelandic Autumn. Been writing about a poem a day here. Also more on the Fiddlehead review. David Orr on another poetic debate. The moon at three am. Pronouncing words correctly. An article on Icelandic poetry. Enjoy!

Plus I chat a bit more about the Riddle and Fiddlehead controversy (let us see the review so we can have our own respectful discussion as required in a democracy!) There is also a waterfall. Enjoy!

Called Fragile Things. After I speak of the traffic and a mysterious swing in the woods and random human crap interrupting the chance for delusional purity.

In which I speak of hot pots, walks, routine, a cemetary, myself as Iceland, the Fiddlehead controversy, sensitive poets and talk about Icelandic poetry then read a poem by Vala Thorodds. Enjoy!

Where I speak of windstorms and walks and the moss and discombobulation and a random encounter and read a Robertson piece from The Weather. Enjoy!

I was jet lagged. I talk about literary encounters en route to Iceland. I attempt to recite a poem Morningshine in Icelandic, then its English translation (by Kristjana Gunnars). Enjoy!

A ten minute recitation of this long poem of childhood. And so I end Season 8 here. Until anon, stay fierce!

Also I talk the shift of seasons, physical pain and the need for fewer interruptions as a poet. And honour Roger with a poem (1936-2023) then remember Elizabeth (1922-2012). Enjoy!

Chat on poetry from an artist! Also I speak of my hip, the bookbox, coffee, a magpie. And read as requested a tiny Vincent Ewen poem called Daedalus’ Dream. Enjoy!

From my father’s 1950 Modern Poetry collection. Enjoy!

Plus I introduce the last week of Season 8, read an excerpt from Ben Lerner’s essay-book The Hatred of Poetry and end with the poem A Minor Crush of Cells by Chase Twichell. Enjoy!

From 1923. Always loved this piece. Not too long but still around five minutes to recite. Enjoy!

1950-2020. I chat about my perspectives on environmental vs eco poetry and give his bio, thoughts on his work and end with a short lyric of his on Biodiversity. Thanks Don. You make me think. Enjoy!

Yeah why cut funding to worthy awards? Why use words like selling points for books of poems? Why need prompts to write? My reactions. And a short poem by Estonian poet Jaan Kaplinkski on Autumn. Enjoy!

From her 2017 book Fast. With a rain-sound humidifier in the background and it is recited haltingly at the dashes, chanted for the arrows and flowed through once the text assembles. Enjoy!

Plus how social media has made us passive and streaming services have spoiled us. Then I end with an apropos Emily Dickinson poem! Enjoy.

The titular poem from her 2017 collection. Sensuous science. Enjoy!

In which you get a tour around the books, plants, knick-knacks and other wonders of my world. What’s your writing studio like? And I close by reading a section of Mark Strand’s Dark Harbor from 1993. Enjoy!

In which I begin with his tin whistle, then natter on about conversations in the hood, and then give you some bits of how I met Tim, his bio and end with a little satirical lyric on Professors of Poetry. Enjoy!

The first edited by Carmine Starnino with the focus being on craft and style and the latter edited by John Barton and attending to identity. The numbers of varied types is distinct; are the poems by Suzanne Buffam and Armand Garnet Russo I opted to read at the end? Or has our focus and inclusivity just changed?

For Labour Day as this Canadian poet who lived from 1909-1996 was a passionate defender of worker’s rights and feminism. I talk a bit about her bio (read Journey with my Selves for much more!) and recite her poem The Unquiet Bed. Enjoy!

Yeah. It’s September! No wonder I need to purge my brain. Here ya go: scrawlings about Iceland, CC grants, book tours, mushrooms, rodeos, students, new poetic forms and a short lyric about nothingness. Enjoy!

That I didn’t mention is of course also from Best Canadian Poetry 2023. A beautiful piece. Though I am down. This did help. Enjoy!

A book of solidarity with worker-poets around the world! I read its descriptor, chapter headings, explain its essential premises and read one of the poems by a hole-punch operator, a woman called Zheng Xiaoquiong. Poetry is freedom beyond institution and safety.

With a recitation from Roan Stallion for my Inhuman drummer Aren (RIP March 13, 2023) and a chat about my absence and various audience reflections! Enjoy.

From the Best Can Po 2023. It’s raining; I’m leaving again; this is a sensory narrative poem of immigration and loss. Enjoy!

Another camping discussion with Katherine Autio by a crackling fire on the poem as poem from Best Can Po 2023. O and the word is orthic not orthotic haha.

From the Best Canpo 2023. Read and discussed as a poem with occasional co-host Katherine Autio while sitting by a fire on our Hinton camping trip! Enjoy :)

A celebration, including the reading of a French poem called Articule Panda, a part of a piece by Lisa Russ Spaar, lines from Addonizio, Legris, McFadzean and a whole piece by Kayla Czaga. Plus a mention of an actual critical review of Clarke by Colman. Yay, a celebratory episode!

A renowned one called Those Winter Sundays. But first I discuss the plagiarism machine, bad lines from BC poets, Megan Fox and her fridge words and other examples of crap. Enjoy!

An exploration of this poem from Best Can Po 2023 as a poem! Revolutionary ;)

Mostly I talk about what Barton says regarding the Canada Council and identity boxes. And read a poem about death and life.

For my niece Stella’s 13th tomorrow! Even though it’s about a MUCH older Stella. Love Auntie Kate.

In which i talk rejection, form, selling crap, the insipid nature of how people describe poetry and hope for standards. Then read Russ Thornton’s Coffee Cup Stain, an elegy for his mother from The White Light of Tomorrow. Enjoy!

In which I speak about variety, connection, exploration and other aspects of engaging students in poetry. Thanks Katherine Autio for the questions!Then read He wants a Dangerous Poem from You Break It You Buy It. Enjoy!

A birthday poem excerpted from Recollections of Early Childhood. In two parts as someone started vacuuming haha. A new performance series! Classic poets and the vacuum!!!!

From Cortes Island in BC about poetry then and now and why. Mostly about song lyrics and ends with Cohen’s Who By Fire. Meanwhile I talk about highs and lows and recite Richard Cory by Edward Arlington Robinson. Enjoy!

Both strange and melancholic, this odd poem is in three parts. It’s poems about birthdays on the podcast in July!