The Talking People Podcast

Read the poem at the Mujer Palabra website.

Check out the webpage at Talking People about Sylvia Plath

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 0:42 — 1.3MB)

Read the poem

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Read the poem and learn more about this insightful author

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:27 — 1.3MB)

Welcome to the TP Podcast!
This time I’m going to read one of the most human poems ever written, a poem that can be understood even if we don’t share the same its author’s time space and culture. I’ll read Shakespeare’s “To be or not to be” in Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Then I’ll tell you my pacifist version of the first five lines, which was what I declared when I was arrested after taking Direct Nonviolent Action (DNVA) at Greenham Common in 1990. (I have to add here that the Sergeant was quite enthusiastic about my statement. I was released about half an hour later!)
Read “To be or not to be”. Here is the pacifist version, also in Spanish.
Here is the Talking People webpage devoted to Shakespeare, who we love!
If you’ve never thought about what the to be or not to be question is, I suggest you think about it now, and if you can, discuss it with more people – you will be surprised.
Thank you for listening and have a nice day!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:36 — 2.4MB)

Check out the Talking People webpage for Anne Sexton, and you’ll be able to listen to her!!!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:27 — 1.3MB)

I love this poem. It’s so mysterious, and so honest. I don’t know what it means. I just know it means something mysterious and daily and beautiful, plus totally human. Picture it as a post-it note on a fridge. Hope you enjoy it!

Read the poem

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Read the lyrics here (from her album “not so soft”, 1991)
Language notes: “to wane” is something the moon does, because the moon waxes and wanes! “To toe the line” is ‘to conform to a rule or standard’.
More on Ani Difranco at the Talking People Website (Music)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:51 — 1.7MB)

Post  your comments at the Dakota in Spain blog
Read the poem at Dian Million’s webpage on Talking People, and find out more about her

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:26 — 3.1MB)

Read the poem and learn more about its author. There are some language notes in the Word version you’ll find.
Hope you enjoy it!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:46 — 1.6MB)

Read this poem and find more info/activities.

Tell yourself this poem when you are waiting to enter an examination room! It’ll lull you a bit, soothe you down, and you’ll be able to concentrate and focus better!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:11 — 1.1MB)

Welcome to our poetry segment!
Read this poem, watch videos where Joy Harjo reads other poems or plays music…

More on American Indians
More on Billie Holiday – “Strange Fruit” and more

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 8:03 — 7.4MB)

Read the poem here

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:13 — 2.0MB)