Words That Burn

Donation Link: Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign: http://www.ipsc.ie/support/donateIn this episode of Words That Burn, I take a closer look at "Door on the Road," by Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha. The poem opens with the aftermath of an explosion in a refugee camp, where a fallen door becomes a grave marker for a young man whose only remaining connection to his past is a worn key — the key to his family’s lost home in Yaffa.As I unpack the powerful imagery in Abu Toha’s work, I explore how everyday objects like doors and keys become symbolic vessels for profound loss, memory, and hope in the context of forced displacement. I also delve into the historical significance of Yaffa, a once-thriving Palestinian city now largely inaccessible to its original inhabitants, and how the city’s erasure is mirrored in the poem’s narrative.Throughout the episode, I draw connections between the poem and Abu Toha’s 2024 poetry collection Forest of Noise, a body of work that documents life in Gaza through stark, evocative imagery and deeply personal narratives. I discuss how the collection uses poetry as a means of bearing witness to everyday atrocities and preserving cultural memory amidst conflict.00:00 The Poem01:14 Introduction to Words That Burn Podcast01:26 Support for Palestine02:52 Mosab Abu Toha: A Witness Poet06:27 Analyzing 'Door on the Road'08:02 The Symbolism of the Door14:02 The Key to Yaffa22:10 The Tragic Reality of Palestinian Life27:11 Final Thoughts and Call to ActionFollow Mosab Abu TohaFollow the Podcast:Read the Script on SubstackFollow the Podcast On InstagramFollow the Podcast on X/TwitterFollow the Podcast on TiktokFollow the podcast on BlueskyThe Music In This Week's Episode:'Echoes' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

In this episode of Words That Burn, I take a closer look at Ophelia’s Head Is Finished by the brilliant poet Olga Dermott-Bond—a haunting and layered ekphrastic response to John Everett Millais’ iconic painting Ophelia. Inspired by a chilling epigraph from one of Millais’ 1852 letters, the poem invites us to reconsider what lies beneath the surface of this romanticised artwork, and to centre the overlooked woman at its heart: Elizabeth Siddal.As I explore the poem stanza by stanza, I reflect on its gothic tone, its critique of the Pre-Raphaelite obsession with beauty, and the physical toll of artistic creation on real women. The lines between Siddal and Shakespeare’s Ophelia, between art history and lived experience, begin to blur—and what emerges is a powerful meditation on agency, endurance, and the quiet violence of expectation.Throughout the episode, I talk about the tradition of ekphrasis—poetry inspired by visual art—and how Dermott-Bond uses it not just to interpret but to reclaim. If you’re curious about the intersections between poetry, painting, feminism, and forgotten voices, I think you’ll get a lot out of this one.00:00 The Poem01:26 Welcome to Words That Burn01:41 Context and Epigraph Analysis02:34 Exploring the Poem's Themes03:06 Historical Context of Ophelia12:20 The Pre-Raphaelite Movement13:49 Elizabeth Siddal's Story15:01 Analysing the Poem's Stanzas25:33 The Final Stanza and ConclusionResources & Links: Millais' OpheliaThe Story Behind Ophelia by Kelly Richman-AbdouAlluviaFollow the Podcast:Read the Script on SubstackFollow the Podcast On InstagramFollow the Podcast on X/TwitterFollow the Podcast on TiktokFollow the podcast on BlueskyThe Music In This Week's Episode:‘Meanwhile’ by Scott Buckley – released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

In this episode of Words That Burn, poet Maurice Riordan joins Ben to reflect on a career-spanning selection of poems curated by former student and fellow poet Jack Underwood. With the new Selected Poems from Faber and Faber arranged out of chronology, Riordan discusses how themes like rural life, modernity, nature, and time emerge more clearly—and more hauntingly—across decades of work.Together, they explore how poetry manipulates time, the influence of film and science, the uncanny weight of Irish myth, and what it means to write with one foot in the past and the other in an overcrowded present. From candlelit farmhouses to televised World Cups, Riordan’s work straddles eras, places, and emotional states—always grounded in vivid, startling imagery.Poems discussed include Rural Electrification, 1956, The Flight, The Lull, Timeout, Gone With the Wind, and Badb, among others.00:00 Introduction to the Podcast00:06 Maurice Riordan's Selected Poems00:48 Themes and Evolution in Maurice's Work03:15 Rural Electrification and Early Influences06:35 The Power of Imagery in Poetry12:28 Cinematic Influences on Poetry17:21 Observations and Domestic Themes21:23 Exploring Connection with Nature25:50 The Influence of Irish Mythology30:24 Reflections on Isolation and Alienation33:01 Balancing Life Between London and Cork34:42 The Intersection of Poetry and Science37:26 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsFollow the Podcast:Read the Script on SubstackFollow the Podcast On InstagramFollow the Podcast on X/TwitterFollow the Podcast on TiktokFollow the podcast on Bluesky

Spring Song by Reg Saner: an eternal cycle we're all lucky to haveIn this episode of 'Words That Burn,' Reg Saner's poem 'Spring Song.' is the central focus With spring setting in, the episode explores the poetic beauty and profound themes in Saner's work, such as points of intersection and transition, cyclical nature, and the ineffable qualities of the natural world. It also uncovers some fascinating aspects of Saner's life, including the roots of his obsession with conservation, his varied career as a soldier, professor, conservationist, and poet, and his eventual shift from poetry to essays. Join me as I take a look at a true hidden gem of American poetry, a man who eventually left the art form behind, but also left an indelible and distinct imprint on it too.00:00 Introduction to Spring Song00:37 Welcome to Words That Burn01:45 Exploring Reg Saner's Background04:09 Analysing the Poem's Imagery06:31 The Cyclical Nature of Seasons09:22 Orpheus and the Paradox of Change10:27 Final Thoughts and Reflections11:51 Contact InformationFollow the Podcast:Read the Script on SubstackFollow the Podcast On InstagramFollow the Podcast on X/TwitterFollow the Podcast on TiktokFollow the podcast on BlueskyThe Music In This Week's Episode:'Petrichor' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

Exploring Louise Glück's 'Snowdrops': A Tale of Resilience and RenewalIt's a new year and with it comes the common pressure cooker that is January. You will be awash in a sea of resolutions and you might be feeling the need to ''hit the ground running'' so to speak. In short; I think it's awful. So for the start of 2025, this episode focusing Snowdrops by Louise Glück, a Nobel Prize-winning poet whose work captures the delicate balance of grief, resilience, and renewal.The snowdrop, a fragile yet tenacious bloom of winter, serves as the perfect metaphor for this reflective time of year. Glück's poem speaks to survival, transformation, and the quiet strength required to embrace a new beginning—even amid life's harshest winters.Join me as I unpack Glück’s masterful use of nature as allegory, her stark yet hopeful language, and the universal human experience reflected in her verse. This episode is a poignant reminder that growth often emerges from hardship and that taking time to rest, like the snowdrop buried in the earth, is an essential part of resilience.As we step into 2025, let this poem inspire you to embrace not a blank slate but a continuation—an opportunity to thrive in the raw winds of a new world.Tune in for an insightful and hopeful start to the year. And as always, I’d love to hear your thoughts—get in touch via email or on social media.Happy New Year, and thank you for being part of the Words That Burn journey.00:00 Introduction and Opening Thoughts00:47 Welcome to Words That Burn01:19 Louise Gluck and Her Poetic Voice02:23 Themes and Techniques in Gluck's Poetry04:48 Analysis of 'Snowdrops' - First Stanza08:40 Analysis of 'Snowdrops' - Second Stanza11:03 Human Resilience and Renewal14:52 Final Thoughts and Reflections17:17 Thank You Follow the Podcast:Read the Script on SubstackFollow the Podcast On InstagramFollow the Podcast on X/TwitterFollow the Podcast on TiktokFollow the podcast on BlueskyThe Music In This Week's Episode:'At The End Of All Things' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

An In-Depth Analysis of 'November' by Maggie Dietz | Words That Burn PodcastJoin me, your host Ben, in this episode of 'Words That Burn' as I take a closer look at Maggie Dietz's poignant poem 'November.' Together, we'll explore the evocative imagery, the interplay of surface and underlying themes, and Dietz's ability to gild the everyday moments of a bleak month. I'll zone in on how the poem encapsulates the transition from the vibrant October to the cold, harsh November, examining Dietz's unique rhyme scheme, her descriptive prowess, and the cyclical nature of the seasons. Tune in for an enriching examination of how humanity and nature mirror each other in the face of winter's arrival.00:00 November by Maggie Dietz Poetry Reading01:17 Welcome to Words That Burn01:29 October's Splendour and Transition to November03:11 Maggie Dietz's Poetic Style05:23 Analysing the Poem's Imagery and Themes10:19 The Colloquial Voice and Natural Imagery15:39 The Subtle Rhyme Scheme18:03 Humanity's Winter Retreat20:31 Final Reflections on November23:49 ConclusionFollow the Podcast:Read the Script on SubstackFollow the Podcast On InstagramFollow the Podcast on X/TwitterFollow the Podcast on TiktokThe Music In This Week's Episode:'Midvinter' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

Donation Link: Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign: http://www.ipsc.ie/support/donateThe Symbolism and Legacy of Refaat Alareer's WorkIn this episode, we explore 'If I Must Die' by Palestinian poet Refat Al Arir, whose work powerfully voices the struggles and resilience of Palestinians. We delve into Refaat Alareer's , his tragic death in an Israeli airstrike, and the prophetic nature of his poetry. The episode also touches on the symbolic significance of kites in Gaza as emblems of hope and resistance. Alareer's commitment to amplifying Palestinian voices in English and promoting messages of endurance through art is thoroughly examined. The episode concludes with a call to action, encouraging donations and ongoing support for Palestinian literature and the Palestinian struggle.00:00 A Poetic Legacy: Introduction to Refaat Alareer01:18 The Life and Mission of Refaat Alareer02:09 A Tragic End and a Prophetic Poem04:04 The Global Impact of 'If I Must Die'05:42 Refaat Alareer's Commitment to the Palestinian Cause09:19 Symbols of Hope in Alareer's Work11:26 The Kite: A Symbol of Resistance13:28 Refat Alirear's Defiance and Message of Peace14:47 The Poem's Collective Story of Survival16:23 Call to Action and Closing RemarksListen to more Palestinian poetry:Listen to the Episode on Mahmoud DarwishListen to the Episode on Fadwa TuqanListen to the Episode on Najwan DarwishListen to the Episode on Noor HindiFollow the Podcast:Read the Script on SubstackFollow the Podcast On InstagramFollow the Podcast on X/TwitterFollow the Podcast on TiktokThe Music In This Week's Episode:'Within Our Nature' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

In this episode of Words That Burn, I look at 'Blossom' by Scottish poet Kathleen Jamie. The episode explores Jamie's profound engagement with nature and the existential themes woven throughout her poem. Known for her realistic, non-romanticised depictions of the natural world, Jamie’s work prompts reflection on humanity's place in nature. The discussion touches on her careful observation and meditation-like practices in nature. The analysis focuses on the poem's compelling opening line on mortality, its invocation of Biblical imagery, and its ultimate message urging deliberate attention to life and nature. The episode also emphasises the importance of reconnecting with one’s surroundings for a fulfilling life.[00:00] Introduction and Blossom Poem[00:50] Struggling with Poetry[01:19] Discovering 'Blossom' by Kathleen Jamie[01:47] Kathleen Jamie's Writing Style[04:02] Existential Themes in 'Blossom'[04:19] Analysing the First Stanza[06:53] Analysing the Second Stanza[10:11] Biblical Allusions and Final Stanza[14:13] Final Thoughts on 'Blossom'[15:33] Engage with Words That Burn[15:45] Contact and SupportFollow the Podcast:Read the Script on SubstackFollow the Podcast On InstagramFollow the Podcast on X/TwitterFollow the Podcast on TiktokThe Music In This Week's Episode:'Reawakening' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

Exploring Poetry with Jamie McKendrick: Memory, Mortality, and ArtIn this episode of 'Words That Burn', host Ben interviews Jamie McKendrick, one of Britain's leading poets and a foremost translator of Italian poetry. They walk through McKendrick's newest collection, 'Drypoint,' discussing themes of memory, mortality, art, and the intricate processes behind poetry writing. McKendrick shares insights into his fascination with etching, his (sometimes) laborious poetry process, and the interplay of ancient mythology with modern life. The episode also touches on broader themes like the nature of borders, the role of poetry in contemporary times, and the ecological concerns reflected in his work.[00:00] Introduction to the Interview[00:47] The Art of Etching and Poetry[03:52] Themes of Memory and Mortality[05:37] Crafting Poetry: Process and Criticism[12:08] Intertextuality and Influences[27:04] Liverpool's Influence and Historical Context[30:17] Exploring Borders and Ownership[34:44] Nature and Mythology in Poetry[38:15] Conclusion and Final ThoughtsIf you enjoyed this interview, or know someone who might, please consider sending it to them directly or leaving me a review wherever you listen.Follow the Podcast:Read the Script on SubstackFollow the Podcast On InstagramFollow the Podcast on X/TwitterFollow the Podcast on Tiktok