Poetic Beings with Will Small

FRIENDS. This is the last episode of Poetic Beings....maybe not forever, but at least for a while. I'm going to be giving more dedicated time and energy to Man;Kind poddy (so go over there if you want to keep hearing my voice) - all links at leadbystory.com.au/mankindpodcast. But, THIS is a special episode to finish my season of 'poems for a pandemic'. My mate Dylan gets real and shares openly and vulnerably about his experience of the pandemic in relation to his mental health, as well as giving us a poem he wrote. Our conversation is a window into some of the challenges that many people were experiencing prior to COVID-19 - and maybe it could be a wake-up call to us, to look out for people in our context, who could use some connection. Thanks so much for listening to Poetic Beings! I may not be recording any new episodes now, but there's a solid back-log there, so please share with your friends, family, English teachers, strange poet friends etc. You can buy the Poetic Beings book here: https://www.willsmall.com.au/store/p4/poeticbeingsbook.html

I've been lucky enough to interview some incredible humans in recent years, but this one is pretty dang special. I recently connected with Sam Illingworth, who has a PhD in atmospheric physics, and a passion for connecting science and the arts. He makes a brilliant poddy called 'The Poetry of Science', and uses poetry to facilitate learning experiences for both scientists and non-scientists. I loved hearing Sam's thoughts on the valuable relationship science and poetry are able to have, and I'm sure you will also. If you enjoy the Poetic Beings podcast, I'd love it if you would take 2 minutes to leave a rating/review on apple podcasts or share this episode with someone you think would dig it! Huge gratitude to my Patreon community who generously support the creation of this show: www.patreon.com/willsmall Search 'The Poetry of Science' to check out Sam's podcast, or connect with his work here: https://www.samillingworth.com/

My friend Rachael Williams joins me for another poem for the pandemic! I also mention Uncontained Festival of the Podcast. You can check that out at: leadbystory.com.au/uncontained facebook.com/leadbystory AND...Season 2 of Man;Kind podcast is launching this Friday, May 29th! Conversations about healthy manhood in the modern world. Subscribe to that bad boy and help me spread the word. https://www.leadbystory.com.au/mankindpodcast

Listening to this episode is pretty dang good decision, but brace yourself, Andrew's poem might take you to some deep places! I was blown away by what he shared here, after I asked him to write a poem for the times we're living in. It's a gift. You're welcome. You can read all my poems for a pandemic here: https://www.willsmall.com.au/blog/poems-for-a-pandemic Connect with Andrew here: https://www.instagram.com/andrewcoxpoetry/ Find out about unContained festival of the podcast here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1280466062163863/

More poems for a pandemic! In this episode I share two more I've written recently and then an interview with my good friend Roje Ndayambaje, who also wrote a poem for these times we are living in. You can see the words to Roje's poem below: As we stand static with fear in this confluence our feet torn between the norm and the chaos navigating reality with forlorn faces let's walk in it courageously though these unannounced storms have been placed upon us causing our spines to fold in fear and for some to beg with the same palms that they pray with but still let's search for joy like Paul in jail acknowledging our ego and nurturing compassion in this solitude we must solidify our connection to self, to neighbour becoming archaeologists of stories and excavating each other intently lifting up the weak and immersing the lonely with love removing the stains on a darkened soul this is the purpose we were made for and these times a testament the streets are filled with ghosts and memories but there is hope in Italy, in Spain homes have become sanctuaries like they were intended brothers bellowing salutations on balconies this virus will not fracture us though it seems we are fading we will not languish finding the holy in hell hospitals have become chapels of silent prayers and God hears God hears, and he is in control And maybe beneath this this torrent of uncertainty There is a dormant silver lining And maybe this is the only sabbath long enough in our lifetime To correct and rebuild, to be still and let the earth breathe.