Kelli Russell Agodon: led by the dead

Gabrielle Calvocoressi: keeping it wild

Gabrielle Calvocoressi [https://d.docs.live.net/fbd9a6288ba8b308/Desktop/EDM/PODCAST/gabriellecalvocoressi.com]’s new collection of poetry, The New Economy, was a finalist for the 2025 National Book Award in Poetry. Other collections include The Last Time I Saw Amelia Earhart, Apocalyptic Swing, and Rocket Fantastic, which is the winner of the Audre Lorde Award for Lesbian Poetry. They serve on the Board of Chancellors of the Academy of American Poets and live in Old East Durham, NC, where joy, compassion, and social justice are at the center of their personal and poetic practice. Like Trains of Cars on Tracks of PlushI hear the level Bee—A Jar across the Flowers goesTheir Velvet MasonryWithstands until the sweet AssaultTheir Chivalry consumes—While He, victorious tilts awayTo vanquish other Blooms. And His Feet are shod with Gauze—His Helmet, is of Gold,His Breast, a Single OnyxWith Chrysophrase, inlaid.His Labor is a Chant—His Idleness—a Tune—Oh, for a Bee’s experienceOf Clovers, and of Noon! A big welcome to new listeners and Substack subscribers! If you’re reading this somewhere other than Substack, these notes may be abridged and photos will not appear. Join the Ask the Poet Substack (kathrynpetruccelli.substack.com) for complete show notes with images, correct poetry formatting, and regular notices of new episodes. (Lentan Cistern 43) Every Day but SundayGabrielle Calvocoressi Formless as a cloud building orDispersed as on April’s pollen eyesBlooming Open open shakingside to side As is there want. Myhead Lolls back and forth on the stemFrom my shoulders Justin comes throughthe side gate fields of him if Itake my glasses off he’s everywherelook we’re trumpet and coronaone body and box full of beeswhere he’s headed the smoke from thesmoker that covers us both waxsome pine needles whatever hehas around it makes us smell likechurch I say lulled leave my glassesoff I’m all petals and nectarwe’re one hum one gold breeze intothe colony that eases healskills reforms itself around usI inhale lean into goldenmusk of us assembled what ifthis was all my body my stemmy bulb my roots my endlessness. People, places, and ideas mentioned: Mabel Loomis Todd [https://www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/mabel-loomis-todd-1856-1932-correspondent/] Edward Dickinson [https://www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/edward-dickinson-1803-1874-father/] (The trains did, in fact, come to Amherst in 1853 as I stated in the interview. To read more about the railroad and Edward’s role in bringing them to town, you can try this link [https://www.westfield.ma.edu/historical-journal/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Lombardo-combined.pdf]. And this one [https://medium.com/@mcarolan/railroad-connected-pioneer-valley-to-world-established-forgotten-town-and-inspired-emily-dickinson-fc7d03480d47].) Gerard Manley Hopkins’ poem,“God’s Grandeur [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44395/gods-grandeur]” ties in Gaby’s reference to him talking about feet being “shod” Eliza Richards, Dickinson scholar [https://englishcomplit.unc.edu/faculty-directory/eliza-richards/] Jen Bervin and her extraordinary work [https://www.jenbervin.com/] Susan Howe [https://poets.org/poet/susan-howe] Radcliffe Institute at Harvard University [https://www.radcliffe.harvard.edu/] Kate Bowler [https://katebowler.com/] (and she has a podcast!) Nystagmus [https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22064-nystagmus] (visual disability) Mary Oliver [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/mary-oliver] (and her poem, “Wild Geese [https://www.poetry.com/poem/123017/wild-geese]”) Anne Sexton [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/anne-sexton] Sylvia Plath [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/sylvia-plath] Lyn Hejinian, [https://poets.org/book/my-life]My Life [https://poets.org/book/my-life] The Regulator Bookshop, Durham, North Carolina [https://www.regulatorbookshop.com/] Modern Nature: The Journals of Derek Jarman [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36526330-modern-nature] Lucille Clifton [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/lucille-clifton], The Clifton House in Baltimore [https://www.thecliftonhouse.org/] Elizabeth Bishop [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/elizabeth-bishop] June Jordan [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/june-jordan] Audre Lourde [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/audre-lorde] Sappho [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/sappho] Yannis Ritsos [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/yannis-ritsos] Homer’s The Iliad – I got it wrong and led Gaby astray, that new translation is in fact done by Emily Wilson (not Alice Oswald). However, you can watch Alice Oswald interview Emily Wilson about it here [https://centerforfiction.org/videos/the-international-library-emily-wilson-on-the-iliad-with-alice-oswald/]. Other Dickinson poems mentioned: My Life had stood - a Loaded Gun - [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/52737/my-life-had-stood-a-loaded-gun-764] Recorded March 26, 2026. There’s still some room for the reading, conversation, & Q&A with Kelli Russell Agodon! An upcoming stand-alone workshop that might be of interest: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kathrynpetruccelli.substack.com/subscribe [https://kathrynpetruccelli.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Bonus Bit: Gabrielle Calvocoressi

This Bonus Bit closes out Season 2 of the podcast. Season 3 will be coming your way in July! Gaby talks about a book by Ang Roell, which they call “Decolonize the Hive.” The title as I found it is Radicalize the Hive and more information about Ang and the book can be found at this link [https://angelaroell.com/writing/]. Here you are! At the end of Season 2! At the Bonus Bit, no less! I’m so glad you’re listening. Would you consider becoming a paid subscriber & contributing to this resource you enjoy? Subscriptions begin as low as $5/€7 a month. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kathrynpetruccelli.substack.com/subscribe [https://kathrynpetruccelli.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Camille T. Dungy: a velocity in the language

Camille T. Dungy [https://camilledungy.com/bio/]is the author of America, A Love Story, Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden, and five other books of poetry and prose. She has edited three anthologies, including Black Nature: Four Centuries of African American Nature Poetry. Dungy is currently a University Distinguished Professor at Colorado State University. If you’re reading this somewhere other than Substack, these notes will be abridged and photos will not appear. Join the Ask the Poet Substack (kathrynpetruccelli.substack.com) for complete show notes with images, correct poetry formatting, and regular notices of new episodes. Crumbling is not an instant’s ActA fundamental pauseDilapidation’s processesAre organized Decays — ‘Tis first a Cobweb on the SoulA Cuticle of DustA Borer in the AxisAn Elemental Rust — Ruin is formal — Devil’s workConsecutive and slow —Fail in an instant, no man didSlipping — is Crashe’s law — (The Johnson 997 version of this poem writes it as “Crash’s law,” but is otherwise identical to the Franklin 1010 version above.) as if an etymology my loveCamille Dungy the word sill means threshold.I am standing at your—I place my feet and body on—the place where I can comeor I can go— thresholdmeant a raised ledge to stopthe hay that covered a floorfrom spilling out and scatteringeach time someone openedthe door. hold the thresh inside,my love. when we bed down,let us bed down on this haysoftfloor. think of it— a syllableis a threshold to a word—just as a windowsill— just asa door— love is one syllable—sleep, hope, dream, death, no,yes, all, one— words are openings.every word— some with manyledges. I place my mind and bodyat your— sweep around the doorsillcarefully— my love Other Dickinson poems referenced: Tell all the truth but tell it slant – [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/56824/tell-all-the-truth-but-tell-it-slant-1263] Some keep the Sabbath going to Church [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/52138/some-keep-the-sabbath-going-to-church-236] There’s a certain Slant of light, [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45723/theres-a-certain-slant-of-light-320] People, songs, books referenced: Jane Hirshfield [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/jane-hirshfield] Charles Chestnutt – read some of his work here [https://americanliterature.com/author/charles-w-chesnutt]. An interview with the biographer of Charles Chestnutt. [https://www.wunc.org/show/due-south/2025-02-11/matter-of-complexion-first-full-biography-nc-author-charles-chesnutt-reconstruction-writer-american-literature] The Yellow Eyes of Texas [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKyGAV1L7f0] James [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/173754979-james] by Percival Everett [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/173754979-james] The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2956.The_Adventures_of_Huckleberry_Finn] by Mark Twain [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2956.The_Adventures_of_Huckleberry_Finn] Additional/of interest: Camille’s essay for the Poetry Foundation [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/articles/70128/tell-it-slant] from several years back entitled “Tell it Slant.” Recorded February 20, 2026. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kathrynpetruccelli.substack.com/subscribe [https://kathrynpetruccelli.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Bonus Bit: Matt Donovan

Matt and I discuss Hanif Abdurraqib’s work, specifically Matt brings up Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49247757-a-little-devil-in-america]. There’s a touch of general chatter after the official recording’s end for those of you who (like me) crave a peek behind the curtain, so to speak, and that then leads into some info for Sylvia Plath fans: Matt reveals a new project that the Boutelle-Day Poetry Center at Smith College (Plath’s alma mater) will roll out. “Brooke” referred to in the conversation is Brooke Steinhauser of the Emily Dickinson Museum. “Jen” referred to in our conversation is Jen Jabaily-Blackburn [https://www.jenjabailyblackburn.com/] from the Center. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kathrynpetruccelli.substack.com/subscribe [https://kathrynpetruccelli.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Matt Donovan: filling in the gaps

Matt Donovan [https://mattdonovanwriting.com/] is the author most recently of We Are Not Where We Are (Bull City Press, 2025) which was co-authored with Jenny George, and The Dug-Up Gun Museum (BOA 2022). He is the recipient of a Whiting Award, a Rome Prize in Literature, a Pushcart Prize, and an NEA Fellowship in Literature. Donovan serves as the director of the Boutelle-Day Poetry Center at Smith College. If you’re reading this somewhere other than Substack, these notes will be abridged and photos will not appear. Join the Ask the Poet Substack (kathrynpetruccelli.substack.com) for complete show notes with images, correct poetry formatting, and regular notices of new episodes. The poem as Matt read it and as we discussed it appears as below (which is what you’ll find on the poets.org site from The Further Poems of Emily Dickinson (Little, Brown, and Company, 1929), edited by Martha Dickinson Bianchi and Alfred Leete Hampson). Empty my heart of thee —Its single artery,Begin to leave thee out —Simply extinction’s date. Much billow hath the seamOne Baltic — they,Subtract thyself, in play,And not enough of meIs left to put away —“Myself” meant thee. Erase the root, no tree ;Thee — then no me —The Heavens stripped,Eternity’s wide pocket picked. Below is the version in Thomas Johnson’s 1955 The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson. (You’ll see there are a couple differences – one very significant one in the first line of the second stanza considering my conversation with Matt!) Empty my Heart, of Thee —Its single Artery,Begin, and leave thee out —Simply Extinction’s Date – Much Billow hath the Sea – One Baltic — They –Subtract thyself, in play,And not enough of meIs left – to put away —“Myself” meant Thee – Erase the Root – no Tree –Thee — then – no me —The Heavens stripped –Eternity’s vast pocket, picked – The View from Under Emily Dickinson’s BedMatt Donovan “The Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst rents outthe poet’s bedroom where she wrote.” —New England Public Radio Some chair legs and the legs of the provided writing deskyou ignored. Several inches of wallpaper vine tangleand pink roses clustered just above the room’s cream trim.The heating vent’s grid with its darkness divided intolittle squares and the pleated hem of the white dress wornby a headless mannequin intended as a stand-in for the poet.Isn’t this what you wanted? To pay for an hour alonein this room, and then, for reasons you never tried to name,shimmy-shove your way beneath after the docent leaves?To be scrunched, wedged between floor and slats, badassand weird-ass all at once, craning your neck, taking it in.Maybe don’t sweat the low-hanging why-am-I-doing-thisthat comes knocking if you let it. You’ve made a strange choice,but that’s more than OK, and now this is where you are,unsure where to place your hands or what to do with everythingyou can see from within this cramped space you chose. Other Dickinson poems referenced: A narrow Fellow in the Grass [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/49909/a-narrow-fellow-in-the-grass-1096] The Installment: Art installment at the Dickinson Homestead (Amherst, Massachusetts) by Matt Donovan and Ligia Bouton: “A Something Overtakes the Mind.” [https://www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/opening-reception-a-something-overtakes-the-mind/] Matt notes the help of Megan Ramsey, Emily Dickinson Museum Collections Manager. Here is a short introductory video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-fqf8VlpAk] about her background and her work cataloguing the collection and managing the warehouse. You’ll be able to find other videos online produced by the museum that look at various pieces held by the museum but that are not necessarily displayed to the public. In addition, on the website, you can virtually look through the collection of objects owned by the museum [https://www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/museum-collection/], from Dickinson’s shawl to tea cups to her nephew’s banjo… People mentioned in the interview: Walt Whitman [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/walt-whitman] Jenny George [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/jenny-george] James Wright [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/james-wright], his book The Branch Will Not Break [https://poets.org/book/branch-will-not-break] Ross Gay [https://www.rossgay.net/about] Thank you for listening and reading. Please leave a comment! Please rate the podcast wherever you listen! Please consider supporting this work and its future by becoming a paid subscriber to Melody or Witchcraft. New Workshop Opportunity: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kathrynpetruccelli.substack.com/subscribe [https://kathrynpetruccelli.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]