Claim OwnershipBeyond the Verse
Subscribed: 9Played: 38
Subscribe
© 2025 Beyond the Verse
Description
Welcome to “Beyond the Verse,” the official podcast of PoemAnalysis.com. Embark on a literary journey where we explore specific poems, delve into poets, and uncover the intricate world of poetry. Each episode is dedicated to learning about the art and craft of poetry.
Join us as we answer questions from Poetry+ users, provide insightful analyses, and discuss all things poetry. Whether you’re a seasoned poetry lover or a curious newcomer, “Beyond the Verse” promises to enrich your understanding and appreciation of the poetic world.
Subscribe now to “Beyond the Verse” and immerse yourself in the beauty of verse, the stories behind the stanzas, and the wisdom of poets across ages. Join Poetry+ at PoemAnalysis.com to get the ultimate poetry experience, including asking questions on the podcast, PDF Guides on all things poetry, email newsletter, and many features on PoemAnalysis.com.
34 Episodes
Reverse
In this week’s episode of “Beyond the Verse,” the official podcast of PoemAnalysis.com and Poetry+, Joe and Maiya celebrate the show’s one-year anniversary, reflecting on the journey so far, the lessons learned, and the evolving style of their in-depth poetry discussions. They share listener questions, revealing their proudest moments, favorite episodes, and the poets who have surprised them most over the past twelve months. From early highlights like Danez Smith’s episode to thematic deep di...
In this episode of Beyond the Verse, the official podcast of PoemAnalysis.com and Poetry+, hosts Maiya and Joe explore 'Small Towns and the River' by Mamang Dai, a deeply resonant poem that blends cosmology, animism, and the intimate experiences of life and death in India’s northeastern hill communities. Together, they unpack how Dai—drawing on her Adi tribal heritage and deep environmental consciousness—uses the imagery of a flowing river to explore permanence, transience, and the cyclical n...
In this episode of Beyond the Verse, the official podcast of PoemAnalysis.com and Poetry+, hosts Joe and Maiya examine Alfred Lord Tennyson's iconic war poem 'The Charge of the Light Brigade.' Written just weeks after the disastrous cavalry charge during the Crimean War in October 1854, this poem dramatically reshaped the Victorian cultural conversation around military sacrifice and heroism. Joe and Maiya explore how Tennyson, as Poet Laureate, transformed a military blunder that initially em...
In this week’s episode of Beyond the Verse, the official podcast of PoemAnalysis.com and Poetry+, Joe and Maiya delve into the strange brilliance of the Metaphysical Poets. From the explosive intimacy of Donne’s 'The Flea,' to the restless rebellion in Herbert’s 'The Collar,' and the dizzying contradictions of Marvell’s 'To His Coy Mistress,' this episode unpacks what unites—and divides—these 17th-century innovators. Joe and Maiya trace the origins of the term “metaphysical poets,” coined pe...
In this week’s episode of Beyond the Verse, the official podcast of PoemAnalysis.com and Poetry+, Joe and Maiya look into John Keats’s haunting meditation on mortality and art, 'Ode to a Nightingale.' Written during the poet’s final years, this celebrated ode encapsulates the fleeting nature of life and the immortal legacy of beauty. Joe and Maiya explore how Keats uses the nightingale’s song as a symbol of timeless artistic expression, contrasting it with the poet’s own fears of death and ob...
In this week’s episode of Beyond the Verse, the official podcast of PoemAnalysis.com and Poetry+, Joe and Maiya unpack Dylan Thomas’s iconic villanelle, 'Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night.' Written in 1947 and published in 1951, this powerful plea to resist mortality remains one of the most famous poems of the 20th century. Joe and Maiya explore how Thomas’s poetic form—strict yet expressive—mirrors the poem’s defiant message. They trace the emotional roots of the piece in Thomas’s perso...
In this week’s episode of Beyond the Verse, the official podcast of PoemAnalysis.com and Poetry+, Joe and Maya delve into T. S. Eliot’s groundbreaking 1922 poem, 'The Waste Land.' Widely hailed as one of the most significant works of modernist poetry, 'The Waste Land' reshaped literary history with its fragmented structure, interwoven voices, and provocative allusions to mythology, religion, and everyday life. Joe and Maiya unpack Eliot’s kaleidoscopic use of symbols—from the Arthurian Fishe...
TW: Discussions of suicide In this week’s episode of Beyond the Verse, the official podcast of PoemAnalysis.com and Poetry+, hosts Joe and Maiya dive into Sylvia Plath’s posthumous collection "Ariel," focusing on 'Daddy,' 'Lady Lazarus,' and other landmark poems from the collection. The episode begins with an exploration of Plath’s life, from her early literary ambitions to the psychological and artistic forces that shaped her groundbreaking work. The hosts examine how "Ariel" redefined confe...
In this episode of Beyond the Verse, the official podcast of PoemAnalysis.com and Poetry+, hosts Joe and Maiya conclude their mini-series on the poets of the First World War with an in-depth exploration of Siegfried Sassoon. They discuss his privileged early life, his pre-war poetry as a Georgian Romantic, and his transformation into one of the most outspoken critics of the war. The episode delves into Sassoon’s military service, his wartime bravery, and the pivotal moment when he publicly de...
In this episode of Beyond the Verse, the official podcast of PoemAnalysis.com and Poetry+, hosts Joe and Maiya continue their exploration of First World War poets by diving into the life and works of Wilfred Owen. They discuss his experiences as a soldier, his time recovering from shell shock at Craiglockhart War Hospital, and his mentorship under Siegfried Sassoon—key influences that shaped his raw and harrowing depictions of war. Through an analysis of his poetry, they explore how Owen reje...
In the opening episode of Season 2 of Beyond the Verse, the official podcast of PoemAnalysis.com and Poetry+, hosts Joe and Maiya launch into a three-part mini-series on First World War poets. The episode dives into the patriotic and idealistic poetry of Rupert Brooke, highlighting his early contributions before and at the onset of the war in 1914; Joe and Maiya explore Brooke’s background, his life as part of the Bloomsbury Group, and his literary works which capture the national mood ...
In this special bonus episode of Beyond the Verse, hosts Joe and Maiya take on Taylor Swift's incredible legacy, delving into an insightful conversation with Kristie Frederick-Daugherty - editor of the poetry anthology 'Invisible Strings: 113 Poets Respond to the Songs of Taylor Swift' - to discuss poetry, music, and the 'invisible strings' that connect it all. Frederick-Daugherty discusses her long-standing admiration for Taylor Swift and the conception of the anthology, which allows conte...
In this week’s episode of Beyond the Verse, the official podcast of PoemAnalysis.com and Poetry+, hosts Joe and Maiya delve into Chinua Achebe’s 'Love Cycle,' an evocative exploration of Igbo tradition, cosmology, and the dynamics of relationships. The episode opens with a deep dive into Achebe’s life, tracing his journey from a colonized Nigeria to the publication of his renowned novel, "Things Fall Apart," and its influence on global perceptions of Africa. The hosts then analyze how 'Love C...
In this week’s episode of Beyond the Verse, the official podcast of PoemAnalysis.com and Poetry+, hosts Joe and Maiya delve into the hauntingly serene world of Emily Dickinson with a close reading and analysis of her iconic poem, ‘Because I Could Not Stop for Death.’ They analyze Dickinson’s portrayal of death as a kind companion, exploring themes of immortality, religious context, and classical allusions, particularly the comparison to Charon, the ferryman of Greek mythology. The discu...
In this week’s episode of Beyond the Verse, the official podcast of PoemAnalysis.com and Poetry+, hosts Joe and Maiya delve into the world of Percy Bysshe Shelley with a close reading and analysis of his 1818 sonnet, 'Ozymandias.' They explore the poem’s profound reflections on power, legacy, and the inevitable passage of time as Shelley critiques the hubris of rulers who believe themselves immortal. Maiya and Joe unpack Shelley’s layered portrayal of decay, the influence of Romantic ideals, ...
In this week’s episode of Beyond the Verse, the official podcast of PoemAnalysis.com and Poetry+, Joe and Maya explore William Blake’s 1794 poem, 'The Tyger,' from his collection 'Songs of Innocence and of Experience.' They dive deep into the complex symbolism of the tiger, discussing its contrast with 'The Lamb,' another of Blake’s celebrated works, and exploring the moral questions posed by its creation. Maya and Joe reflect on Blake’s fascination with the tension between innocence and expe...
In this week’s episode of Beyond the Verse, the official podcast of PoemAnalysis.com and Poetry+, Joe takes us on a journey through the world of William Wordsworth’s beloved poem, 'I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,' also known as 'Daffodils.' Exploring the poem’s portrayal of nature’s serenity, Joe and Maiya delve into Wordsworth’s life, his connection to the Lake District, and how these elements shaped his vision of solitude and joy. They discuss the symbolism of the daffodils, the contrasts bet...
In this week’s episode of Beyond the Verse, the official podcast of PoemAnalysis.com and Poetry+, Joe and Maiya delve into Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s timeless Sonnet 43, ‘How Do I Love Thee?,’ exploring its profound portrayal of love’s transcendence and the poet’s relationship with Robert Browning. They discuss the sonnet’s enduring appeal, from its heartfelt imagery to its structure as a Petrarchan sonnet, positioning it as a love letter between two literary giants. Joe and Maya examine Ba...
In this week’s episode of Beyond the Verse, the official podcast of PoemAnalysis.com and Poetry+, Joe and Maya explore Wole Soyinka’s powerful poem 'Telephone Conversation,' delving into themes of white subjectivity, racial politics, and the power dynamics embedded in language. The duo discusses the significance of Soyinka’s lyric ‘I,’ addressing the poet’s bold reclamation of personal voice, the systemic racial barriers of 1960s Britain, and the stark contrasts between the speaker’s calm dem...
In this episode of 'Beyond the Verse,' podcast of PoemAnalysis.com and Poetry+, hosts Joe and Maiya present a detailed exploration of Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Raven.' They investigate the poem's intricate structure, analyzing its use of trochees, internal rhyme, and Gothic elements, touching on how 'The Raven,' published in 1845, contrasts with Poe's earlier works through its rhyme scheme and introspective themes, marking a significant shift in his literary approach. Get exclusive PDFs on ‘...
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States