Writing Poetry - Audio - podcast cover

Writing Poetry - Audio

The Open University•www3.open.ac.uk

Higher Education

Poetry is a delicate and intricate art form, practised by many people but rarely mastered. In this album, poets Jackie Kay, Paul Muldoon, W.N. Herbert and Jean Breeze talk about their respective approaches and attitudes to poetry. They explore many aspects of their craft, from the initial spark of inspiration and rewriting to more technical matters such as rhyme, using real speech and narrative poetry. This material forms part of the course A175, Writing poetry.

Last refreshed: August 17th, 2025 at 1:47 PM ⓘ

Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.

Follow on

Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app

Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

The Purpose of Poetry

Poets Jackie Kay and W.N. Herbert talk about the importance and function of poetry, and read some of their own work to demonstrate their thoughts.

May 31, 2009•6 min

Transcript -- The Purpose of Poetry

Transcript -- Poets Jackie Kay and W.N. Herbert talk about the importance and function of poetry, and read some of their own work to demonstrate their thoughts.

May 31, 2009

Getting Started

Joined by Paul Muldoon, the poets take a look at methods of being inspired, the purpose of meaning in poetry and the importance of reading contemporary poetry.

May 31, 2009•4 min

Transcript -- Getting Started

Transcript -- Joined by Paul Muldoon, the poets take a look at methods of being inspired, the purpose of meaning in poetry and the importance of reading contemporary poetry.

May 31, 2009

Personal Poetry

In this track, authors talk about the way in which their own lives inform and inspire their poetry, and the way in which personal details can be changed or highlighted in order to produce dramatic poetry.

May 31, 2009•3 min

Transcript -- Personal Poetry

Transcript -- In this track, authors talk about the way in which their own lives inform and inspire their poetry, and the way in which personal details can be changed or highlighted in order to produce dramatic poetry.

May 31, 2009

Rhyme and Speech

Rhyme is an intrinsic aspect of poetry, but is it wholly necessary? Paul Muldoon and Jackie Kay talk to about where – and where not – to use rhyme, and the intrinsic rhythm patterns in everyday speech.

May 31, 2009•2 min

Transcript -- Rhyme and Speech

Transcript -- Rhyme is an intrinsic aspect of poetry, but is it wholly necessary? Paul Muldoon and Jackie Kay talk to about where – and where not – to use rhyme, and the intrinsic rhythm patterns in everyday speech.

May 31, 2009

For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android