Poetry Unbound

On Being Studios

Short and unhurried, Poetry Unbound is an immersive exploration of a single poem, hosted by Pádraig Ó Tuama.

Pádraig Ó Tuama greets you at the doorways of brilliant poems and walks you through — each one has wisdom to offer and questions to ask you.

Already a listener? There’s also a book (Poetry Unbound: 50 Poems to Open Your World), a Substack newsletter with a vibrant conversation in the comments, and occasional gatherings.

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224 episodes
Updated July 24

Episodes224

Newest first

Jun 19, 2023 · 13 min
Selina Nwulu — Replay
What might have been? A poet recalls flirtations and electric connections that could have led to a different life.
Jun 16, 2023 · 13 min
John Lee Clark — Self Portrait
If you had to make a self portrait of your daily morning routine through language and sensation, what would you include? John Lee Clark offers memories of a birthday through experiences the body holds.
Jun 12, 2023 · 13 min
Kay Ulanday Barrett — Pantoum for recital when my mom said, don’t let them see you cry
A memory from childhood is viewed through the lens of the Malaysian poetic form of pantoum. New things emerge when lines break and reform with new associations.
Jun 9, 2023 · 13 min
dg nanouk okpik — In a Lock of Hair
If you could put a lock of your hair under a microscope, what would it contain? DNA certainly, but here in dg nanouk okpik’s poem, the hair also contains memory, smell, location, disease, dreams, and medicine.
Jun 7, 2023 · 1 min
On Poetry and Patronage: An Invitation to Love Us
Pádraig reflects on the transformative force of poetry, and Krista joins with an invitation to pay tribute to the ongoing work of Poetry Unbound. Make a gift and learn more at onbeing.org/LoveUs.
Jun 5, 2023 · 15 min
Benjamin Gucciardi — The Rungs
A social worker holds a group for teenagers at a school. They only half pay attention to him. Then something happens, and they pay attention to each other.
Jun 2, 2023 · 12 min
Rowan Ricardo Phillips — Never Again Would Birds’ Song Be the Same
Have you ever had a private moment — perhaps in the middle of the night — in a large city? When it just seems like it’s you and the great dreaming metropolis? Rowan Ricardo Phillips brings us into a memory he can’t forget, complete with a Wu-Tang Clan soundtrack.
May 29, 2023 · 11 min
Alexander Posey — The Dew and the Bird
In a poem of strict rhymes and old forms, Alexander Posey (1873-1908), a poet of the Creek Nation, poses challenges to pomposity.
May 26, 2023 · 11 min
José Olivarez — No Time to Wait
In a church there are liturgies and prayers and statues. But in José Olivarez’s poem, there are more urgent things taking place, things that have “no time to wait.”
May 22, 2023 · 12 min
Safia Elhillo — Ode to My Homegirls
Friendships deserve praise songs and here’s a praise song — an ode — to friends that have crossed continents for each other, and would go further if needed.
May 15, 2023 · 1 min
Poetry Unbound — Season 7 Trailer
Poetry Unbound with host Pádraig Ó Tuama is back on Monday, May 22. Featured poets in this season include Selina Nwulu, Wo Chan, Rowan Ricardo Phillips, Mark Turcotte, and many more. New episodes released every Monday and Friday through July 28.
Feb 20, 2023 · 1 hr 12 min
Ada Limón with Krista Tippett — “To Be Made Whole”
Friends, we are awakening your Poetry Unbound feed for a moment to share this episode from the big, beautiful new season of On Being. And Pádraig’s here with a quick hello and a glimpse of what more On Being conversations await you in coming months. You won’t want to miss — subscribe now in the On Being feed and catch each episode as it drops, every Thursday.
Dec 22, 2022 · 28 min
BONUS: A conversation with Lorna Goodison – and the humans behind Poetry Unbound
As part of a celebratory launch party for the new Poetry Unbound book, Pádraig welcomed Lorna Goodison, former Poet Laureate of Jamaica, into a joyful Zoom room of poetry lovers and listeners of the show, old and new. We draw Season 6 to a close with their conversation on themes explored in Lorna’s poem “Reporting Back to Queen Isabella” (one of the 50 featured in the book): poetry as a “made thing”; poetry as a form of travel. And: Pádraig chats with our wonderful producer and composer Gautam
Dec 16, 2022 · 14 min
Danusha Laméris — Bonfire Opera
A younger woman looks at an older woman, admiring her beauty, skill, and freedom. Older now, she thinks of how hard-won such freedom is.
Dec 12, 2022 · 15 min
Rumi — You wake the dead to life
Who brings you to praise? Rumi’s great poem of praise to the “you” is to his great friend Shams, and through that friendship, to God.
Dec 9, 2022 · 15 min
Naomi Shihab Nye — I Feel Sorry for Jesus
What’s it like to be owned by the world, to have populations claiming you, to have millions speaking on your behalf? Naomi Shihab Nye takes a close look — from a distance — at Jesus, and herself.
Dec 5, 2022 · 14 min
Victoria Adukwei Bulley — not quiet as in quiet but
Quiet. Shhh. Softly. Don’t make a fuss. Don’t upset the authorities. Victoria Adukwei Bulley unquiets the quiet.
Dec 2, 2022 · 18 min
Benjamín Naka-Hasebe Kingsley — small talk or in my hand galaxies
On the day you wake to a broken window in your car, what do you do? And what happens when the woman repairing that window offers a glimpse of something new?
Nov 28, 2022 · 12 min
Dan Vera — Norse Saga
When you move to a new place, everything seems different. Hell’s not hot anymore; it’s freezing. A poem of strangeness and wonder.
Nov 25, 2022 · 14 min
Solmaz Sharif — Self-Care
Who decides what’s self care and what isn’t? Who benefits? Who pays? Upon whom does the burden of self care rest? Solmaz Sharif excavates.

Poetry Unbound

Selina Nwulu — Replay

John Lee Clark — Self Portrait

Kay Ulanday Barrett — Pantoum for recital when my mom said, don’t let them see you cry

dg nanouk okpik — In a Lock of Hair

On Poetry and Patronage: An Invitation to Love Us

Benjamin Gucciardi — The Rungs

Rowan Ricardo Phillips — Never Again Would Birds’ Song Be the Same

Alexander Posey — The Dew and the Bird

José Olivarez — No Time to Wait

Safia Elhillo — Ode to My Homegirls

Poetry Unbound — Season 7 Trailer

Ada Limón with Krista Tippett — “To Be Made Whole”

BONUS: A conversation with Lorna Goodison – and the humans behind Poetry Unbound

Danusha Laméris — Bonfire Opera

Rumi — You wake the dead to life

Naomi Shihab Nye — I Feel Sorry for Jesus

Victoria Adukwei Bulley — not quiet as in quiet but

Benjamín Naka-Hasebe Kingsley — small talk or in my hand galaxies

Dan Vera — Norse Saga

Solmaz Sharif — Self-Care