Abstract Poetry

Daniel Lucas welcomes Canadian author Randi-Lee Bowslaugh to Abstract Poetry to explore Thoughts of a Warrior, her collection of 50 poems paired with nature photography. Randi-Lee shares how writing helps her express difficult emotions, reflects on the shift from the darker themes of Thoughts of a Wanderer toward hope, and reads her poem Shatter the Mirror. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What can a landscape teach us about war, memory, and the search for peace? On Abstract Poetry, host Daniel Lucas welcomes author and art historian Briana Gervat to discuss her book, There Will Come Soft Rains: A Journey Along the Western Front. Reflecting on her 2022 walk along the Western Front, Briana shares how visiting former battlefields, cemeteries, forests, and cathedrals deepened her connection to the history of the First World War. She considers the contrast between her own journey and the hardships soldiers endured more than a century earlier. The conversation explores the influence of Sara Teasdale’s poem “There Will Come Soft Rains,” the relationship between nature and remembrance, and the possibility of finding peace in small, fleeting moments. Join Abstract Poetry on Universal Podcast Network for a thoughtful conversation about how poetry and place help us reflect on loss, honor the past, and recognize the fragile beauty of peace. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What can poetry offer when life brings pain that cannot simply be fixed or hurried past? In this episode of Abstract Poetry 101, Daniel Lucas welcomes Autumn Williams, author of the chapbook Waves and the poetry collection Clouds on the Ground. Autumn writes contemporary poetry influenced by her experience living with myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as ME/CFS. She describes how she aims to make the poems resonate beyond her own circumstances, giving readers language for hardship, loss, longing, and the need to feel understood. Her work makes room for difficult experiences without asking people to ignore their pain or “just look on the bright side.” Autumn explains the image behind Clouds on the Ground. During a period when ME/CFS left her bedbound and movement was difficult, she imagined clouds resting on the ground—a peaceful place she could reach without moving upward. That image became a personal visualization and later inspired the collection’s title and a poem within the book. The conversation explores the collection’s central themes of time, loss, and dreams. Autumn reflects on how time can feel slow during illness yet seem to move quickly as life continues; how loss can involve health, relationships, or hoped-for futures; and how dreams can offer a place for imagination, escape, and reflection. Join Daniel and Autumn for a thoughtful conversation about poetry, chronic illness, vulnerability, and the power of finding words for experiences that can otherwise feel isolating. Clouds on the Ground invites readers to recognize both the beauty that may be present now and the realities they are still learning to carry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What gives poetry its rhythm, and how can imagery help a poem connect with its audience? On Abstract Poetry, Safa Bernal explores poetry’s roots in oral storytelling, the purpose of meter, and the power of language meant to be heard and performed. She also introduces three poetry books with science fiction and fantasy themes: Usurper Kings, Warning Light Calling, and The Drake Equation. Join the conversation for a fresh look at poetry’s history, sound, imagery, and imaginative possibilities. Find more episodes at Universal Podcast Network. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Abstract Poetry | Charmaine Chanevickie: Finding Healing, Identity & Inspiration Through Jamaican Poetry What happens when the words we write to heal ourselves become the stories that inspire others? Book 101 Review, presented by Universal Podcast Network and hosted by Daniel Lucas, welcomes Charmaine Chanevickie, a foreign language teacher, tutor, poet, and debut author of Lickil-a-this, Lickil-a-that, a collection of Jamaican poetry. For Charmaine, poetry has never been simply about putting words on a page. It has been a lifelong passion, a creative refuge, and a powerful means of processing emotions, experiences, and personal reflections. Her love for poetry began during her teenage years, when she would write verses inspired by her feelings and experiences, often discarding them afterward. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, something changed. She began collecting her poems digitally, gradually developing a substantial body of work that would help inspire her debut publication. Today, Charmaine has written approximately 400 poems and continues exploring her creative voice through writing. What began as a personal form of emotional expression eventually became a published literary journey. In this compelling conversation, Charmaine shares how writing poetry has helped her navigate sadness, reflect on life, and express feelings that are sometimes difficult to communicate through ordinary conversation. Her fondness for rhyming couplets, her experience teaching languages, and her Jamaican literary identity provide a distinctive perspective on creativity, storytelling, and the relationship between language and emotion. In This Episode, Discover: The Journey of a Jamaican Poet: How Charmaine's lifelong love of poetry developed into her first published collection. Lickil-a-this, Lickil-a-that: The story behind her debut Jamaican poetry book. Poetry as Emotional Expression: Why writing has become an important personal outlet for processing feelings and experiences. Creativity During the Pandemic: How COVID-19 encouraged Charmaine to preserve and organize her poems. The Beauty of Rhyming Couplets: Exploring the poetic structure and rhythm she enjoys using. Language and Literary Identity: How her background as a foreign language teacher connects with her love of words. From Private Writing to Publication: The journey of transforming personal poems into a book. The Power of Creative Persistence: Why Charmaine continues writing and developing new work. Sometimes the most meaningful stories are the ones we never intended to share. Charmaine's journey reminds aspiring writers that creative expression does not always begin with a publishing ambition. Sometimes it begins with a feeling, a difficult moment, or a few carefully chosen words. Whether you're an aspiring poet, an admirer of Jamaican literature, an educator, or someone who finds comfort in creative writing, this episode explores how poetry can become a meaningful part of personal reflection and artistic growth. Because poetry is more than words arranged into verses. It is an opportunity to give emotions a voice. Join Daniel Lucas and Charmaine Chanevickie for an inspiring conversation about poetry, creativity, cultural identity, and the courage to share personal writing with the world. Book 101 Review — Discover the Authors. Explore the Stories. Celebrate the Books. Presented by Universal Podcast Network. One Voice, Everywhere. Website: https://www.universalpodcast.net Subscribe, listen, and share this episode with someone who believes in the p Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.