School of Poetry

As March draws to a close, host Dr Oli Tearle is accompanied by guests Dr Sarah Parker and Dr Kerry Featherstone to contemplate the theme of spring. Kicking off with a reading of ‘Spring’ by Edna St. Vincent Millay, our experts discuss an interesting ‘Dairy Ode’ that is So Bad It’s Good, when you should read aloud to your cat, and the modern poetry of Leicestershire. Featured poem: To what purpose, April, do you return again? Beauty is not enough. You can no longer quiet me with the redness Of little leaves opening stickily. I know what I know. The sun is hot on my neck as I observe The spikes of the crocus. The smell of the earth is good. It is apparent that there is no death. But what does that signify? Not only under ground are the brains of men Eaten by maggots. Life in itself Is nothing, An empty cup, a flight of uncarpeted stairs. It is not enough that yearly, down this hill, April Comes like an idiot, babbling and strewing flowers. To follow updates on the podcast, check out @lboroenglish on twitter.

School of Poetry is a podcast dedicated to discussing and analysing the good – and the not so good – within the world of poetry. Our first show launches on World Poetry Day, 21 March 2018, so hit the subscribe button to listen in.Follow us on Twitter - @LboroEnglish