“Hard to Say” episode 33, “Brenda Hillman on Poetry and Politics”

photo: Tracy Hall

In these excerpts from her craft talk at the 2009 Squaw Valley Community of Writers, Brenda Hillman discusses tensions between poetics and politics, the writings of Denise Levertov and Robert Duncan, and some of the unique approaches to political poetry that she used in writing her most recent collection, Practical Water (Wesleyan 2009). For more information on the Squaw Valley Community of Writers, visit their website.

Download episode 33 (mp3)

“Hard to Say” episode 32, “The Idea of a Hybrid Poetic”

Edited by Cole Swenson and David St. John, Norton’s new anthology of Contemporary Poetry, American Hybrid, suggests that today’s American poet combines previously opposed poetic styles. The idea of a hybrid poetic is based on a history of late twentieth century American poetry that emphasizes conflict based on poets’ stylistic commitments. But how accurate is this history?  Is it productive to imagine that poetry in our era has transcended conflict to create a new, more open and inclusive poetic atmosphere? “The Idea of a Hybrid Poetic” looks closely at Cole Swenson’s introduction to the collection, and features a reading of Reginald Shepherd’s “Direction of Fall.”

Download episode #32 (mp3)

New Music for “Hard to Say”

miPOradio welcomes Miniature Soap, the new soundtrack artist for “Hard to Say.”   Hear more at  http://www.myspace.com/miniaturesoap.

New episode in the works; “Hard to Say” goes interactive

The new anthology American Hybrid, edited by Cole Swenson and David St. John, raises interesting questions about contemporary poetics, poets’ influences, and the politics associated with stylistic commitments. Look for a new episode, “The Idea of a Hybrid Poetic,” in early July.

And, with “Hard to Say” at it’s new home on wordpress, it’s easy to get in touch with the show. Want to make a comment on a previous episode? Want to send an idea for a future episode? You can log in and post a comment on the blog, or email William Stobb at hardtosayonmiporadio@yahoo.com.

Hard to Say #31: Tom Tucker’s Blues

In 1958, Langston Huges got in a studio with Leonard Feather and Charles Mingus to record a jazz version of The Weary Blues. Half a century later, the Beat poet laureate of La Crosse, Wisconsin sits down with me to talk about the cd, living the blues, and blues poetry. We’ll hear excerpts from the cd, including Hughes’s “Morning After” and “Bad Man” and we’ll hear Tom Tucker’s poems “Sunday” and “Jackson Pollock.”

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