The Poets Weave

Kourtney Jones reads "I Asked the Dead" and "Radish Greens."Kourtney is a poet, teacher, and interdisciplinary artist from Fort Wayne, Indiana. She can be found typing in public spaces from a typewriter with her performance poetry project known as The Poem Market. Kourtney is the author of the poetry chapbook The Mug Drops. Her current work explores the intersections of languages and dreams, the transmission between the dead and the living, environmental illness, and poetry as a practice for collective liberation.

William Landau reads "Monomyth," "Faerie Fruit," "" and "To Be a F."William is a second year MFA student at Indiana University Bloomington. Their work has appeared in publications including Hanging Loose Press, Diabolical Plots and Sinister Wisdom and will appear in an upcoming issue of Painted Bride Quarterly. When not reading or writing they're usually busy worshipping their cat, overanalyzing gay TV shows or perfecting their shortbread recipe.

Angela Lim reads "Without Compass," "COMPULSORY," "I find myself jealous of ghosts" and "Tell the Space Enthusiast 'No, Thank You'."Angela Lim is a poet, educator, and editor currently living in Bloomington, Indiana, where she is pursuing an MFA in poetry at Indiana University. In addition to writing poems, Angela has written dozens of juvenile nonfiction books.

Kentucky native, Rosemarie Wurth-Grice is a retired National Board Certified Teacher and founding member of the Not Dead Poets Society. Her poetry and short stories have appeared in Kentucky Monthly, Kudzu, and the Journal of Kentucky Studies. Her chapbook, Darkness Called Us Home, is forthcoming in 2025 by Finishing Line Press.Rosemarie reads "Vestigial," "One for Sorrow," "How is it Possible?," "Hibernation," and "Winter Rain."She joins us via Zoom from her home.

Nina Boals reads "Somewhere in Illinois," "The Laughter," and "Litany for Spring."Nina is a writer from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. She received an MFA in poetry at Indiana University, where she served as Editor in Chief and Nonfiction Editor of Indiana Review. Her work can be found or is forthcoming from Southeast Review, Puerto del Sol, Ninth Letter, and elsewhere.

As a tribute to Jenny Kander, we're reaching back to 2008 for an episode of Jenny reading her own work. She reads from her "Maternal" series: "Late Insight," "Mother's Sister, Dury," "The Misfit," and "Painted Screen."Jenny Kander move from South Africa to Bloomington, Indiana in 1992. She began writing poetry later in life and became a prominent member of the local poetry scene. Of her many contributions, Jenny created two radio programs, one of which is the Poets Weave, which she began at WFIU in 1999. Her poetry has appeared in Flying Island, California Quarterly, Bathtub Gin, Wind, Southern Indiana Review, and Shiver. She published two chapbooks: Taboo and The Altering Air. Jenny passed away on October 8, 2024 at the age of 91.

Gabrielle Myers reads "Green Humming Earth," "The Aftermath of Flourishing," "Summer's widening aperture," and "Flower Feeding."Gabrielle is a writer, professor, and chef. Her memoir, Hive-Mind, was published in 2015. Her first poetry books Too Many Seeds and Break Self: Feed are available via Finishing Line Press (2024). Her third poetry book, Points in the Network, is forthcoming in 2025. She joins us remotely via Zoom. (Her website: www.gabriellemyers.com)

Zilia Balkansky-Sellés reads "Thoughts while rolling the garbage bin," "End of April, Rainy Sky," "Gaggle of Boys," and "The House Across the Street."Zilia is a writer and actor based in Bloomington, Indiana. Her poems have been published in the online journal Comparative Woman, and in the books Trigger Warnings, edited by Joan Hawkins and Kalynn Brower, and Stormwash: Environmental Poems, edited by Hiromi Yoshida. Her work appeared in the 2023 Ryder Magazine, Poetry Edition and has been presented at spoken-word events hosted by the Writers Guild at Bloomington.

Zilia Balkansky-Sellés reads "Elephant Born, "Mulch Pile," "April 20, 2021," and "The Assurance of a Sunflower." Zilia is a writer and actor based in Bloomington, Indiana. Her poems have been published in the online journal Comparative Woman, and in the books Trigger Warnings, edited by Joan Hawkins and Kalynn Brower, and Stormwash: Environmental Poems, edited by Hiromi Yoshida. Her work appeared in the 2023 Ryder Magazine, Poetry Edition and has been presented at spoken-word events hosted by the Writers Guild at Bloomington.

Danika Stegeman's second book, Ablation, was released by 11:11 Press in November 2023. Her book Pilot (2020) was published by Spork Press. She's a 2023 recipient of a grant from the Barbara Deming Memorial Fund and recently spent a two-week residency in Marathon, TX, outside Big Bend National Park.Her website is danikastegeman.com.On this edition of the Poets Weave, Danika reads "Swallowtail," as well as an excerpt from her second book Ablation.

Joe Di Prisco reads "National Poetry Month."Novelist, memoirist, and poet, Joseph Di Prisco published his fourth book of poetry, My Last Resume: New & Collected Poems in 2023. His work has appeared in numerous journals and periodicals, and his poetry has been awarded prizes from Poetry Northwest, Bear Star Press, and Bread Loaf. Joe champions writers, artists, educators, and students through his decades of teaching and his involvement with organizations dedicated to the arts, theater, and children's mental health.

As a tribute to Jenny Kander, we're reaching back to 2007 for an episode of Jenny reading her own work. She read "Dream," "Great Aunt," "Eve of Grown Daughter's Birthday," "Ice Late February," "Tattoo," and "Dream On."Jenny Kander move from South Africa to Bloomington, Indiana in 1992. She began writing poetry later in life and became a prominent member of the local poetry scene. Of her many contributions, Jenny created two radio programs, one of which is the Poets Weave, which she began at WFIU in 1999. Her poetry has appeared in Flying Island, California Quarterly, Bathtub Gin, Wind, Southern Indiana Review, and Shiver. She published two chapbooks: Taboo and The Altering Air. Jenny passed away on October 8, 2024 at the age of 91.In her memory, we're reaching back to 2007 for an episode of Jenny reading her own work.

Heather Corbally Bryant reads “Listening to Seamus Heany.”Heather is a Senior Lecturer at Wellesley College, the author of a prize-winning study of Elizabeth Bowen, and eleven books of poems. Her poems have been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, the Massachusetts Book Award, and have received honorable mention in the Finishing Line Press's Open Chapbook competition.

Allie Rigby has roots in the chaparral and deserts of California. She is the author of Moonscape for a Child, published by Bored Wolves in 2024, and she's a recipient of a Fulbright grant to Romania. Her writing explores health, climate change, ecology, and community, and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2020.Allie reads "Poem as Ghost Ally," "For the Hole in Fonda," "Late March," and "Orange Peel."

Joseph Kerschbaum's most recent publications include Mirror Box published in 2020 by Main St Rag Press and Distant Shores of a Split Second published in 2018 by Louisiana Literature Press. His work has appeared in Reunion: The Dallas Review, Hamilton Stone Review, The Inflectionist Review, Main Street Rag, In Parentheses, and Umbrella Factory. Joseph lives in Bloomington, Indiana with his family.Joseph reads "Years to Burn," "Weed Garden," "Detasseling," and "Now that we have nowhere to hide."

Kentucky native, Rosemarie Wurth-Grice is a retired National Board Certified Teacher and founding member of the Not Dead Poets Society. Her poetry and short stories have appeared in Kentucky Monthly, Kudzu, and the Journal of Kentucky Studies. Her chapbook, Darkness Called Us Home, is forthcoming in 2025 by Finishing Line Press.Rosemarie reads "On Returning Home," "Seasons Mean Nothing," and "An October Pantoum of Sorts."

Joe Di Prisco reads "The Cancellation of Spring" and "I Was Just Leaving."Novelist, memoirist, and poet, Joseph Di Prisco published his fourth book of poetry, My Last Resume: New & Collected Poems in 2023. His work has appeared in numerous journals and periodicals, and his poetry has been awarded prizes from Poetry Northwest, Bear Star Press, and Bread Loaf. Joe champions writers, artists, educators, and students through his decades of teaching and his involvement with organizations dedicated to the arts, theater, and children's mental health.

Gili Haimovich is a bilingual poet in Hebrew and English, the author of ten poetry books, including Promised Lands (published by Finishing Line Press in 2020) and the multilingual book of her poem "Note." Her poetry has won prizes and grants in Israel, Italy, Hong Kong, and elsewhere, and has been translated into 34 languages and published extensively worldwide.

Gabrielle is a writer, professor, and chef. Her memoir, Hive-Mind, was published in 2015. Her first poetry books Too Many Seeds and Break Self: Feed are available via Finishing Line Press (2024). Her third poetry book, Points in the Network, is forthcoming in 2025. Her website: www.gabriellemyers.com

KIM DOWER is the author of six collections of poetry, including "What She Wants: Poems on Obsession, Desire, Despair, Euphoria" published by Red Hen Press in January 2025. Her poems have been featured in many anthologies and journals, including Ploughshares, James Dickey Review, Plume, and Barrow Street. She teaches poetry workshops for Antioch University, UCLA Extension, and the West Hollywood Library. Kim lives with her family in West Hollywood, California, and she joins us today via Zoom.

A native of Vandalia, Illinois, Paul Stroble has a long career as adjunct faculty in history, philosophy, and religion. He has written books, essays, curricular materials, and poetry. Finishing Line Press has published eight of his poetry collections, most recently Four Mile (2022), Galapagos Joy (2023), and East Rock (2024).On this edition of the Poets Weave, Paul reads "County Seat," "Stereoscope," "Transistor Radio," and "Psalm in Snow."

Danika Stegeman reads "Heart Rate Cento," as well as an excerpt from her second book Ablation.

Zilia Balkansky-Sellés reads "Helen—After Troy, "The Grasshopper's Curse," and "The Graiae." 

Colleen Wells reads "Seedlings," "Second-hand Smoke," "The Hawk," "Roadkill," and "Angel Bee Funeral.”

Doris Lynch reads "Bird Languages," "First Snow After Your Death," "Sound Patina," "Sangre de Cristo Mountains," and "Lake Griffy Woods."

Heather Corbally Bryant reads “Crevices,” “Lady Slippers on Pinnacle Road,” “Gibbous Moon,” “Winter Berries,” and “Red Dragonfly.”

As a tribute to Jenny Kander, who created Poets Weave in 1999, we're reaching back to 2009 for an episode of Jenny reading her own work. She read poems from her "Ditzy Dee" series: "Life Happens," "Careering Through a Blaze of Words Ditzy Dee Plans to Write Copy for a Food Magazine," and "Jelly Donuts."Jenny passed away on October 8, 2024 at the age of 91. 

Barb Schwegman reads "Two White Girls Go to Market," "Leaving El Salvador," and "For Walter and Scott."

Karen Rigby reads "Song for the Onion," "To the Huy Fong Foods Company," and "Plums."

Doris Lynch reads "First Call, Cody - Kivalina, Alaska," "Ice Fishing on Thanksgiving Eve," and "Conjuring Borealis."

Barb Schwegman reads "Aunt Mary Rupe," "My Grandmother's Hands," "Meeting in the Garden," and "Night Walking."

Joe Di Prisco reads "The Satrap Will See You Now," "Being at Home in You," "Poem in which no one appears to show up for his party," and "Poem in which he shares what he learned today at the spa."

Colleen Wells reads "Reframing," "Group," "Out of Chaos Comes Art," "A Dose of Today," and "Borderline Personality Disorder.”

Joseph Kerschbaum reads "Distance From Here," "Into the Darkness," "Ghost in the Graveyard," and "Afterlife."

Danika Stegeman reads "Field," as well as an excerpt from Ablation.

Daniel reads "An Account of a Llama's Death," "Taking Care," "Clay," "Applause," and "Owlet."

Joseph Kerschbaum reads "Under the Surface," "Augury," "Invasive Species," and "Snapshot."

Karen Rigby reads "On Marion Cotillard's 2008 Oscar Dress," "Derby Hats," and "Norma Desmond Descending the Staircase as Salome, Sunset Boulevard, 1950."

Daniel Lassell reads "Finishing the Harvest," "Portrait of Truth as a Satisfied Belly," "Myself, a Barbed Wire," and "Everywhere the Salt."

Joe Di Prisco reads "My Last Resume" and "My Mission Statement."

Barb Schwegman reads "Memory of Water," "Night Walking," and "Basketball."

Eric Rensberger reads "End of the Day," "10/17/18," "Autobiography Vol. VI," and "Old Guy Observation."