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19/05/2013

A typically untypical range of poems, read by Kerry Elkins and John Mackay. Surreal poems by Stevie Smith and Alastair Reid sit effortlessly beside heartfelt tales of loss.

A typically untypical range of poems, read by Kerry Elkins and John Mackay. Sublime and surreal poems nestle comfortably alongside heartfelt tales of loss and longing. Poems include Stevie Smith's macabre work The River God and a more benign reflection on nature from the great pre-Raphaelite Dante Gabriel Rossetti in his poem 'Silent Noon'. Alastair Reid's work makes regular appearances on the programme but it's usually in the form of his translations of Pablo Neruda's work, so Roger takes the chance to introduce some of his own poetry; the beguiling 'What's What' and a simply beautiful one called 'Oddments, Inklings, Omens, Movements.'
Producer: Sarah Langan.

30 minutes

Last on

Sat 25 May 2013 23:30

This Week's Poems

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The Peace of Wild ThingsÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

By Wendell Berry

From Being Alive

Published by Bloodaxe

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Silent NoonÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

By Dante Gabriel Rossetti

From Dante Gabriel Rossetti – Collected Writings

Published by New Amsterdam Books

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The River God

By Stevie Smith

From Bread and Roses – An Anthology of Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Poetry by Women Writers

Published by Virago

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Oddments, Inklings, Omens, MomentsÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

By Alastair Reid

From Weathering

Published by Canongate

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LateÌýÌýÌýÌý

By Christopher Reid

From A Scattering

Published by Arete Ltd

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DimensionsÌýÌýÌýÌý

By Laura Jackson Riding

From A Selection of the Poems by Laura Riding

Published by Carcanet

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Small Sad SongÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

By Alastair Reid

From Inside Out – Selected Poetry and Translations

Published by Polygon

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Park MillÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

By Andrew Greig

From This Life, This Life

Published by Bloodaxe

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The Good Old Days

By David Sutton

From David Sutton – New and Selected Poem 1965-2005

Published by Peterloo Poets

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What's WhatÌýÌý

By Alastair Reid

From Weathering

Published by Canongate

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AnniversaryÌýÌýÌýÌý

By Ted Hughes

From Ted Hughes – New Selected Poems – 1957-1994

Published by Faber

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Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Roger McGough
Reader Kerry Elkins
Reader John MacKay
Producer Sarah Langan

Broadcasts

  • Sun 19 May 2013 16:30
  • Sat 25 May 2013 23:30