Poems for Company

"Frederick and Anna Murray Douglass": Though Frederick Douglass grew up not knowing his exact birthdate and even uncertain just how old he was, historians presume he was born in February 1818.  Douglass wrote, "I do not remember to have ever met a slave who could tell of his birthday."  His master "deemed all such inquiries on the part of a slave improper and impertinent, and evidence of...

"Some Horses, Some Oxen": Four poems are featured on this show, three about horses and one about oxen.  All of the horse poems tell us as much about the speaker as they do about the horses, and the final poem details a most curious Christmas folk belief.  What are all these animals thinking?  The poems are read in this order: Walt Whitman, from Song of Myself, section 32 (first published...

"Responding to Loss": All three poems in this episode reflect on the loss of a person, when loss is final.  Perhaps one or more of these poems speak to feelings you have experienced but could not define quite like these poets do.  Are poems and songs useful for facing one's own demise or for dealing with the loss of one close to us?  You might think about that while listening to these po...

"Civilians in the First World War": All four poems on today's episode focus on civilians in the First World War, particularly women: how were they affected?  Jessie Pope, "War Girls."  Siegfried Sassoon, "Glory of Women."  May Wedderburn Cannan, "Rouen."  E. E. Cummings, "my sweet old etcetera."  There are many fine anthologies that present poetry from this era.  I'll recommend two disti...

"Advice": Have you ever urged anyone to procreate?  If so, what motivated you to do that?  Today's episode presents poems that offer direct advice, not only about when to have children and why, but also about what to eat, how to interact with others, and additional concerns.  Shakespeare, Sonnet # 3.  Catherine Tufariello, "Useful Advice," from Keeping My Name (Texas Tech UP, 2004).  A p...