In my school library, I would often come across books that contained a collection of poems. Though most of my classmates prefered novels and storybooks, I was always enamoured by the way poets could fit many emotions and stories in such limited words.
I believe, poems paint pictures like none other. Their ability to take you to new places and experience emotions is almost mystical. The beauty lies in their simplicity and the ease with which poems can resonate things that you wish to share. But it's an art that often gets sidelined in today's times.
After finishing college, I had almost stopped reading poems as I no longer visited libraries. Call me old school, but I often reminisced times when renting books, video cassettes or CDs was a thing. We would save up every penny, to be able to rent that one book or CD. All of it only to know that someone else had got their hands on it first. And then you wait for a week for it to come back.
But thanks to technology, exploring poems has now become easy. The Bridge Chronicle puts together a list of podcasts for poetry lovers willing to explore new artists. And for those who haven't given poetry a shot, here's something new to explore this new year.
Here's a list of podcasts that we swear by
Read me a poem: Started by The American Scholar, read me a poem is a podcast that picks out beautiful poems from the yesteryears. The podcast host and Associate Professor of Latin American literature, Amamda Holmes adds life to the poem with her laudable orator skills.
Our pick: A Bird, came down the Walk by Emily Dickinson
The poetry exchange: This podcast came to me when I was visiting home after a long time. I was in a cab, excited and anxious to see everyone after soo long. What calmed me down was, listening to peoples stories about a poem became their friend. Just then, I knew, I had found a new travel partner.
Our pick: Turns by Tony Harrison
The daily poem: From Shakespeare and John Donne to Robert Frost and E.E Cummings this podcast has it all. If you are willing to discover antiquities of the field, then you must check out The Daily Poem.
Our pick: Robert Frost's An Old Man's Winter Night
A paradise of poems: The love for poetry comes only after finding a poem that resonates with you. The emotions, the struggle and the feeling that someone else has experienced something similar get you hooked on. At a paradise of poems, you will surely find may such classics that make you say, "I know, I felt it."
Our pick: Pale Blue Dot by Carl Sagan
Poetry sessions: Hosted by Arun Jee, Poetry sessions is a podcast that puts together poetry from various moods, themes and styles. Discover some unheard artists and their perspectives on everyday events.
Our pick: Birthdays by A K Ramanujan