Welcome to Art and Verse! Today, January 9th, we’re celebrating the birthdays of three influential figures:

• Simone de Beauvoir (b. 1908), a pioneering French writer and existential philosopher whose work, The Second Sex, challenged societal norms and laid the foundation for modern feminist thought.
• Joan Baez (b. 1941), the iconic singer-songwriter and activist who became a voice for peace and justice during the Civil Rights era, with timeless songs like We Shall Overcome and Diamonds and Rust.
• Richard Nixon (b. 1913), the 37th President of the United States, whose legacy is marked by both significant diplomatic achievements and the historic Watergate scandal.
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Today’s featured poem is “Voice to the Voiceless” by Lauras Wallace. Wallace is a groundbreaking literary figure, a two-time #1 bestselling Amazon author, and a masterful writer of Black dialect. Her powerful works draw inspiration from African American literature and her Southern roots. In 2023, Wallace earned her first Pushcart Prize nomination for her poem No Justice for Breonna, published in Social Justice Inc.'s anthology.

You can find Lyris Wallace and her Sister, Chyrel J. Jackson at https://sistersrocnrhyme.blogspot.com/https://sistersrocnrhyme.blogspot.com/

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Thanks for tuning in—be well and stay inspired!

Welcome to Art and Verse! Today, we’re celebrating the 8th of January by highlighting three extraordinary figures:

• Elvis Presley (b. 1935), the King of Rock and Roll, whose legendary voice and stage presence reshaped modern music.
• Stephen Hawking (b. 1942), the brilliant physicist who changed the way we understand black holes and the universe, inspiring millions with his intellect and resilience.
• Wilkie Collins (b. 1824), a master of suspense and an early pioneer of the modern detective novel, best known for The Woman in White and The Moonstone.

Today’s featured poem is Carl Sandburg’s “Chicago”, a powerful tribute to the bustling city’s gritty spirit and raw beauty.

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Thanks for tuning in—be well and stay inspired!

Welcome to Art & Verse!

In this episode, we celebrate:

• Zora Neale Hurston (1891): Literary giant of the Harlem Renaissance, author of Their Eyes Were Watching God, and anthropologist known for her vibrant storytelling and exploration of African American culture.
• Charles Addams (1912): Brilliant cartoonist and creator of The Addams Family, whose delightfully macabre humor transformed the strange and unusual into something beloved by generations.
• Gerald Durrell (1925): Naturalist, conservationist, and author of My Family and Other Animals, a humorous memoir of his childhood in Corfu. Durrell founded the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, dedicated to protecting endangered species.

Our featured poem is Indiana 1, Cleveland 0 by Ken Tamaro, a poet who discovered his craft later in life. Since then, he has been published in literary journals, featured on podcasts, and launched a YouTube channel to share his work.

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Thanks for tuning in—be well and stay inspired!

Welcome to Art & Verse!

In this episode, we celebrate:

• Khalil Gibran (1883): Visionary Lebanese American poet, philosopher, and artist, best known for The Prophet, a timeless work blending Eastern and Western philosophies on love, freedom, and self-discovery.
• Carl Sandburg (1878): Celebrated American poet known for his stark realism in collections like Chicago Poems and Cornhuskers, as well as his biography of Abraham Lincoln.
• Jacobo Timerman (1923): Fearless Argentine journalist and author of Prisoner Without a Name, Cell Without a Number, who exposed the brutality of Argentina’s dictatorship and became a symbol of courage in the fight for human rights.

Our featured poem is Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost, from his collection New Hampshire, published in 1923 by Henry Holt and Company.

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Thanks for tuning in—be well and stay inspired!

Welcome to Art & Verse!

In this episode, we celebrate:

• Diane Keaton (1946), award-winning actress and filmmaker known for Annie Hall and The Godfather.
• Alvin Ailey (1931), visionary choreographer and founder of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
• Robert Duvall (1931), legendary actor celebrated for his roles in Apocalypse Now and Tender Mercies.

Our featured poem is Mischief by Nolcha Fox and Barbara Harris Leonard. Nolcha is a multiple Best of the Net nominee and editor for Masticadores USA. Barbara is the author of Three Penny Memories, Poet of the Year 2023 by Trending Poets, and editor for Masticadores USA.

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Thanks for tuning in—be well and stay inspired!

Welcome to Art & Verse! I’m Heather Arrington, and today is January 4th, 2025.

In this episode, we celebrate:

• Jacob Grimm (1785), co-creator of Grimm’s Fairy Tales and a linguistics pioneer.
• Louis Braille (1809), who revolutionized education for the visually impaired with his Braille system.
• Dyan Cannon (1937), award-winning actress and filmmaker, known for her vibrant presence in Hollywood.

Our featured poem is Sea of Tranquility by Walter Bargen, Missouri’s first Poet Laureate, with 28 published collections and numerous accolades.

Enjoying the show? Support us on Patreon to help keep Art & Verse going strong!

Thanks for tuning in—be well and stay inspired!

Welcome to Art and Verse, your daily celebration of art, culture, and poetry!

In today’s episode, we honor three incredible figures—J.R.R. Tolkien, Clement Attlee, and Diana Athill. Plus, we feature the evocative poem My Father Watched Westerns by Faith Shearin.

Featured Birthdays:

• J.R.R. Tolkien: Born on January 3, 1892, Tolkien is revered as the father of modern fantasy literature. His masterpieces, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, introduced readers to Middle-earth, a world of unparalleled depth and imagination. As a philologist, Tolkien's love for language shaped the intricate mythologies and histories of his stories. A professor at Oxford and a World War I veteran, his works reflect themes of courage, friendship, and resilience. Tolkien passed away on September 2, 1973, but his legacy continues to captivate readers and inspire countless creators.

• Clement Attlee: Born on January 3, 1883, Attlee was a transformative British Prime Minister who led the UK from 1945 to 1951. His tenure is celebrated for establishing the National Health Service (NHS), expanding social housing, and creating the modern welfare state. Known for his understated yet impactful leadership, Attlee rebuilt post-war Britain with a vision of social justice that remains a benchmark in political thought. He passed away on October 8, 1967, but his contributions endure in the institutions he helped create.

• Diana Athill: Born on January 3, 1917, Athill was a celebrated British writer and editor. As an editor at André Deutsch, she nurtured literary legends like V.S. Naipaul and Margaret Atwood. Athill’s memoirs, including Somewhere Towards the End and Instead of a Letter, explored themes of love, aging, and loss with wit and candor. Her reflections inspired readers to embrace life’s complexities with courage and humor. Athill lived to the age of 101, passing away on January 23, 2019, leaving a lasting legacy in literature.

Today's Featured Poem

My Father Watched Westerns by Faith Shearin

It is from Shearin’s collection Moving the Piano, published by Stephen F. Austin University Press in 2014.

Welcome to Art and Verse, your daily celebration of art, culture, and poetry!

In today’s episode, we honor three incredible visionaries—Isaac Asimov, Roger Miller, and Mina Loy. Plus, we feature the inspiring poem A Cloud by the award-winning poet David Dephy.

Featured Birthdays:

• Isaac Asimov: Born on January 2, 1920, Asimov is a legendary figure in science fiction, celebrated for his Foundation and Robot series. The Foundation series, inspired by Gibbon’s The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, masterfully explores the cycles of civilization, while the Robot series introduced the groundbreaking Three Laws of Robotics. Asimov’s prolific output—over 500 books and countless essays—spans science fiction, history, chemistry, and religion, making him one of the most influential writers of the 20th century.

• Roger Miller: Born on January 2, 1936, Miller was a country music genius whose wit and creativity brought us classics like King of the Road. His unique blend of humor and poignancy earned him 11 Grammy Awards and a permanent place in the annals of classic country music. A master wordsmith, Miller’s legacy continues to inspire generations of musicians.

• Mina Loy: Born on January 2, 1882, Loy was a trailblazing poet, writer, and artist. Known for her bold, avant-garde style, she explored themes of love, identity, and modernity with unparalleled candor. A pivotal figure in the Dada and Futurist movements, her work—both literary and visual—helped shape modernist literature. Her Feminist Manifesto remains a powerful critique of societal norms, cementing her influence on feminist literature and modernist art.

  
  

Today's Featured Poem

A Cloud by David Dephy

David Dephy is a celebrated poet and novelist, known for his remarkable contributions to literature and art. His work has earned accolades such as "Literature Luminary" and "Stellar Poet." Notably, his poem A Sense of Purpose will travel to the Moon as part of NASA's Lunar Codex project in 2024. Exiled from Georgia in 2017, Dephy now lives in New York City with his family.

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As an independent podcast, your support is vital. If you enjoy the show, consider becoming a patron on ⁠Patreon⁠. Your contributions help us continue sharing daily episodes featuring the best in art, culture, and poetry.

Thank you for listening, and remember to stay inspired!