Mark Reads to You

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A podcast started so you can hear someone else’s voice while you’re being socially distant. One poem a day, just to give you a break. Enjoy!

Mark Coen


    • Jan 22, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 1m AVG DURATION
    • 318 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Mark Reads to You

    Alexander: Praise Song for the Day

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2021 1:56


    Praise Song for the Day by Elizabeth Alexander, written and delivered for Barack Obama's first inauguration.

    Williams: Of History and Hope

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2021 1:42


    Of History and Hope by Miller Williams, written and delivered for Bill Clinton's second inauguration.

    Angelou: On the Pulse of Morning

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2021 3:49


    On the Pulse of Morning by Maya Angelo, written and delivered for Bill Clinton's first inauguration in 1993.

    Frost: The Gift Outright

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2021 0:47


    The Gift Outright by Robert Frost. Kennedy gave Frost the option of reciting this poem or a new poem at the inauguration, and when Frost couldn't read his original poem, he recited this one from memory. My reading is of the 1942 original; for the inauguration, Frost changed the last line from "Such as she would become" to "Such as she will become." That change was made at Kennedy's request, apparently to give the poem a greater sense of optimism.

    Frost: Dedication

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2021 3:02


    Dedication by Robert Frost. This poem was written specifically for John F. Kennedy's inauguration, but Frost was unable to deliver it as the sun (and reflected light off of snow) made it impossible for the 86 year old poet to read his copy.

    Week 45: Inaugural Poems

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2021 0:51


    Joe Biden will be only the fourth President of the US to have a poem delivered as part of his inauguration. JFK started the practice with his inaugural in 1961, for which Robert Frost wrote a poem specific to the occasion. He then wound up delivering a different poem from memory, as solar glare made it impossible for him to read the new poem. Poetry then took a bit of a hiatus until Bill Clinton, who included poetry at both of his inaugurations. Barack Obama did the same at both of his inaugurals as well. At age 22, US Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman will become the youngest poet to deliver a poem at a US Presidential inauguration. Good luck Amanda, and good listening to all!

    Glück: Vespers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2021 0:57


    Vespers by Louise Glück, US Poet Laureate from 2003-2004.

    Collins: Cheerios

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2021 0:42


    Cheerios by Bill Collins, US Poet Laureate from 2001 to 2003.

    Kunitz: Passing Through

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2021 1:04


    Passing Through by Stanley Kunitz, US Poet Laureate from 2000 to 2001.

    Pinsky: Glass

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2021 1:00


    Glass by Robert Pinsky, US Poet Laureate from 1997 to 2000.

    Hass: The Failure of Buffalo to Levitate

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2021 0:33


    The Failure of Buffalo to Levitate by Robert Hass, US Poet Laureate from 1995 to 1997.

    Dove: Testimonial

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2021 0:43


    Testimonial by Rita Dove, US Poet Laureate from 1993 to 1995.

    Week 44: US Poets Laureate, Part II

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2021 0:35


    The second part in our series covering US Poets Laureate, one poem per laureate per day.

    Sandburg: Chicago

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2021 1:35


    Chicago by Carl Sandburg

    Sandburg: Under the Harvest Moon

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2021 0:28


    Under the Harvest Moon by Carl Sandburg

    Sandburg: Fog

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2021 0:14


    Fog by Carl Sandburg, a bonus episode given its length

    Sandburg: The Answer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2021 0:42


    The Answer by Carl Sandburg

    Sandburg: Caboose Thoughts

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2021 1:52


    Caboose Thoughts by Carl Sandburg

    Sandburg: At a Window

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2021 0:40


    At a Window by Carl Sandburg

    Sandburg: Accomplished Facts

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2021 1:07


    Accomplished Facts by Carl Sandburg

    Week 43: Carl Sandburg

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2021 0:42


    All episodes this week are by the great Midwestern poet Carl Sandburg, born January 6, 1878

    Purpura: Resolution

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2021 0:25


    Resolution by Lia Purpura

    resolution lia purpura
    Merwin: To the New Year

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2021 0:35


    To the New Year by W. S. Merwin

    Shockley: on new year's eve

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2020 0:56


    on new year's eve by Evie Shockley

    Wilcox: The Year

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2020 0:35


    The Year by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

    Clare: The Old Year

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2020 0:48


    The Old Year by John Clare

    Nye: Burning the Old Year

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2020 0:38


    Burning the Old Year by Naomi Shihab Nye

    Week 42: New Year

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2020 0:40


    This week's poems are all in celebration of the new year and New Year's Day holiday. Happy New Year's to you all, and best wishes for a hopefully much improved 2021!

    Nesbitt: December 26

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2020 0:23


    December 26 by Kenn Nesbitt

    Church: Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2020 2:26


    In 1897, a girl named Virginia O'Hanlon sent a letter to the editor to the New York Sun asking them to confirm what some of her friends were saying, that there is no Santa Claus. The reply was published anonymously but was written by Francis Pharcellus Church, an editorial writer for the paper. The letter and its reply have been reprinted countless times, and inspired other works.

    Moore: A Visit from St. Nicholas

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2020 2:24


    A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore.

    Arthur: Model-Train Display at Christmas in a Shopping Mall Food Court

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2020 1:59


    Model-Train Display at Christmas in a Shopping Mall Food Court by James Arthur.

    Rossetti: In the bleak midwinter

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2020 1:03


    In the bleak midwinter by Christina Rossetti.

    cummings: [little tree]

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2020 0:58


    [little tree] by e. e. cummings.

    Week 41: Christmas

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2020 0:41


    A week of poems in celebration of Christmas (and perhaps of Boxing Day, if I can find a poem for it that I like). Merry Christmas or Happy Friday as appropriate!

    Michelson: Elijah vs. Santa

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2020 1:07


    Elijah vs. Santa by Richard Michelson

    Baker: A Hanukkah Prayer for a Time of Darkness

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2020 1:07


    A Hanukkah Prayer for a Time of Darkness by Marla Baker

    Galvin: Letters Spoken in Wind

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2020 0:50


    Letters Spoken in Wind by Rachel Galvin

    Repp: Honorary Jew

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2020 1:04


    Honorary Jew by John Repp.

    Piercy: Season of Skinny Candles

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2020 0:29


    Season of Skinny Candles by Marge Piercy.

    Raskin: The Miracle

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2020 1:13


    The Miracle by Philip M. Raskin

    Week 40: Hanukkah

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2020 0:25


    All the poems this week are about Hanukkah, which started last Thursday and runs through this Friday. For those who celebrate, I hope you have a great holiday!

    O'Hara: Ave Maria

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2020 1:18


    Ave Maria by Frank O'Hara.

    Eady: Charlie Chaplin Impersonates a Poet

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2020 0:38


    Charlie Chaplin Impersonates a Poet by Cornelius Eady.

    Swenson: The James Bond Movie

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2020 1:19


    The James Bond Movie by May Swenson.

    Ginsberg: The Blue Angel

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2020 0:46


    The Blue Angel by Alan Ginsberg

    Salter: Video Blues

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2020 0:52


    Video Blues by Mary Jo Salter

    Brown: Silent Film

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2020 0:50


    Silent Film by Kurt Brown

    Week 39: Poems about Movies

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2020 0:30


    This week is a twist on last week's theme, with poems about going to the movies, making movies, the film industry, and so on. While I may not stick to this list, this set of poems compiled by the Poetry Foundation is a good place to start.

    Thomas: Do not go gentle into that good night

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2020 0:55


    Do not go gentle into that good night by Dylan Thomas, in Back to School (1986), Dangerous Minds (1995), and Interstellar (2014).

    Blake: The Tyger

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2020 0:46


    The Tyger by William Blake, in The End of the Affair (1955), Blade Runner (1982), and The Secret Life of Altar Boys (2002).

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