S20E4: "Good King Wenceslas" by Vaclav Svoboda, trans. by John Mason Neale (S14 Encore)
The Well Read Poem
As befits the time of year, we will be reading six poems of Advent and Christmas. This series is a re-airing of episodes from Season 14. We have selected certain familiar poems, which may yet contain certain surprises in their authorship and composition history, as well as some less well-known pieces which we hope will help you better enjoy the late days of the year leading up to the great Feast of the Nativity of Christ the Lord. Today's poem is "Good King Wenceslas" by Vaclav Svoboda in translation by John Mason Neale. Reading begins at timestamp 6:53. Good King Wenceslas by...
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S20E3: "Christmas Carol" by Sara Teasdale (S14 Encore)
The Well Read Poem
As befits the time of year, we will be reading six poems of Advent and Christmas. This series is a re-airing of episodes from Season 14. We have selected certain familiar ones, which may yet contain certain surprises in their authorship and composition history, as well as some less well-known pieces which we hope will help you better enjoy the late days of the year leading up to the great Feast of the Nativity of Christ the Lord. Today's poem is "Christmas Carol" by Sara Teasdale. Reading begins at timestamps 4:49 and 7:48. Christmas Carol by Sara Teasdale The kings they came from out...
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S20E2: "Mistletoe" by Walter de la Mare (S14 Encore)
The Well Read Poem
As befits the time of year, we will be re-visiting six poems of Advent and Christmas during this twentieth season of the Well-Read Poem. We have selected certain familiar ones, which may yet contain certain surprises in their authorship and composition history, as well as some less well-known pieces which we hope will help you better enjoy the late days of the year leading up to the great Feast of the Nativity of Christ the Lord. Today's poem is "Mistletoe" by Walter de la Mare. Reading begins at timestamps 5:23 and 8:10. Mistletoe by Walter de la Mare Sitting under the mistletoe...
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S20E1: "The Magi" by William Butler Yeats (S14 Encore)
The Well Read Poem
As befits the time of year, we will be reading six poems of Advent and Christmas during this twentieth season of the Well-Read Poem. This series is a re-airing of episodes from Season 14. We have selected certain familiar ones, which may yet contain certain surprises in their authorship and composition history, as well as some less well-known pieces which we hope will help you better enjoy the late days of the year leading up to the great Feast of the Nativity of Christ the Lord. Today's poem is "The Magi" by William Butler Yeats. Reading begins at timestamps 4:51 and 9:39. The Magi by...
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S19E6: "Aubade" by Philip Larkin
The Well Read Poem
In this 19th season of the Well Read Poem, the principal theme of the six poems selected is that of Death. We selected these poems to provide a variety of imaginative treatments of what Henry James called "The Distinguished Thing", drawing on the writings of poets of different centuries, cultures and perspectives. We hope they are enjoyable, illuminating, and not so dismal as to discolor anyone's summer. Today's selection is "Aubade" by Philip Larkin. Readings begin at timestamps 2:49 and 8:25. To learn more about this podcast and host Thomas Banks, visit .
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S19E5: "The Twa Corbies" Anonymous Scottish
The Well Read Poem
In this 19th season of the Well Read Poem, the principal theme of the six poems selected is that of Death. We selected these poems to provide a variety of imaginative treatments of what Henry James called "The Distinguished Thing", drawing on the writings of poets of different centuries, cultures and perspectives. We hope they are enjoyable, illuminating, and not so dismal as to discolor anyone's summer. Today's selection is "The Twa Corbies" of anonymous Scottish origin. Readings begin at timestamps 4:25 and 8:45. To learn more about this podcast and host Thomas Banks, visit . The Twa...
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S19E4: "Ecclesiastes 12" from the King James Version
The Well Read Poem
In this 19th season of the Well Read Poem, the principal theme of the six poems selected is that of Death. We selected these poems to provide a variety of imaginative treatments of what Henry James called "The Distinguished Thing", drawing on the writings of poets of different centuries, cultures and perspectives. We hope they are enjoyable, illuminating, and not so dismal as to discolor anyone's summer. Today's selection is "Ecclesiates 12" from the King James Version of the Bible. Readings begin at timestamps 5:08 and 8:55. To learn more about this podcast and host Thomas Banks, visit ....
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S19E3: "Elegies 11.28" by Propertius (Translated by Constance Carrier)
The Well Read Poem
In this 19th season of the Well Read Poem, the principal theme of the six poems selected is that of Death. We selected these poems to provide a variety of imaginative treatments of what Henry James called "The Distinguished Thing", drawing on the writings of poets of different centuries, cultures and perspectives. We hope they are enjoyable, illuminating, and not so dismal as to discolor anyone's summer. Today's selection is "Elegies 11.28" by Propertius (Translated by Constance Carrier). Readings begin at timestamps 4:34 and 6:54. To learn more about this podcast and host Thomas Banks,...
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S19E2: "On a Dead Child" by Robert Bridges
The Well Read Poem
In this 19th season of the Well Read Poem, the principal theme of the six poems selected is that of Death. We selected these poems to provide a variety of imaginative treatments of what Henry James called "The Distinguished Thing", drawing on the writings of poets of different centuries, cultures and perspectives. We hope they are enjoyable, illuminating, and not so dismal as to discolor anyone's summer. Today's selection is "On a Dead Child" by Robert Bridges. Reading begins at timestamp 4:24. To learn more about this podcast and host Thomas Banks, visit . On a Dead Child By Robert...
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S19E1: "Epitaph on the Countess of Pembroke" by William Browne
The Well Read Poem
In this 19th season of the Well Read Poem, the principal theme of the six poems selected will be that of Death. We selected these poems to provide a variety of imaginative treatments of what Henry James called "The Distinguished Thing", drawing on the writings of poets of different centuries, cultures and perspectives. We hope they are enjoyable, illuminating, and not so dismal as to discolor anyone's summer. Today's selection is "Epitaph on the Countess of Pembroke" by William Browne. Readings begin at timestamps 9:35 and 12:15. To learn more about this podcast...
info_outlineWelcome back to Season 17 of the Well Read Poem! This season's theme is "When Homer Nods: Bad Poetry by Good Poets." Until this season, our readings on The Well Read Poem have nearly all been drawn from the well of the great, or at least the good, waters of poetry, which would of course take a lifetime and more to exhaust. And so it has been deemed appropriate at summer's close, as we return to school and the daily round, that we should partake slightly of a few select vintages of bad poetry by otherwise accomplished poets for the sake of variety and the amusement of all.
Today's selection is "To a Republican Friend" by Matthew Arnold. Poem readings begin at timestamps 5:27 and 9:52.
To learn more about Thomas Banks, visit https://houseofhumaneletters.com, and to listen to our flagship podcast, head to https://www.theliterary.life. You can also find free downloadable, printable files with all the poems read on the podcast on our poetry page at https://www.theliterary.life/the-well-read-poem/.