"Travel Tickets," by Samih al-Qasim

Terrific poem by the Lebanese Arab-language poet, Samih al-Qasim. Poem is translated by A.Z. Foreman from his great poetry in translation site.

link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_guYEYMbkg

"You Have Closed Your Eyes," by Giuseppe Ungaretti

Nice little poem by Ungaretti, translated by A.S. Kline. Around 40 seconds.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bxy_soD7ao

Baseball Figures

In honor of baseball returning (well, maybe), a video with just text and music, featuring a poem about different baseball positions and roles. "Baseball Figures."

link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oF8RkFdqb0s

"An Old Song Resung," by William Butler Yeats

A bit longer than most of my poetry vids: 40+ seconds.

link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5Q2L3S872E

Magnetic Resonant Imaging

Although recovering Inquisitors designed
the machine, I'm told it's safe--just as
a member of the Frankenstein team
goes into a sealed control room.

The gizmo's noises range from
from punk-goose-shrieks to
psychotic jackhammers howls.
A magnet orbits my head like a mad
moon, a sadistic satellite. All
for some photos? The total effect

hypnotizes me. That and boredom
put me to sleep like a chicken at dusk.
Thus my head moves, ruining pictures.
The operator's voice intrudes,
imploring me not to nod off, and although
Fuck you forms in my pummeled
brain, I still myself, who has become
a hot-dog stuffed into a plastic bun
at a nightmare country fair.


hans ostrom 2020

"And What Shall You Say?" by Joseph S. Cotter, Jr.

30-second video/reading of a poem by Joseph S. Cotter, Jr., that was published in James Weldon Johnson's celebrated anthology The Book of American Negro Poetry (1922).

link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBZZx6YNSPA

"A Proud Lady," by Elinor Wylie

Video/reading of a poem by Elinor Wylie (1885-1928), American poet.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2ecUgkU3rI

"Written at Scarborough," by Mary Tighe

One-minute reading/video of a poem written by Mary Tighe (1772-1810), an Anglo-Irish poet known mainly for her long poem, Psyche, which retells the Pysche/Cupid myth. I like the modern tone of this poem.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DKyYzZyIPI

She Looks Good

30-second reading/video of a poem I posted in 2017, "She Looks Good."  On the lighter side.

link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_KKj2h1jMk

"A Nereid," by Alexander Pushkin

30-second video/reading of a poem by Pushkin about the mythological Nereid, a goddess of the sea.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dv73eoxmdo

"We Will Sleep Together," by Louis Aragon

A whimsical love poem, translated, by Louis Aragon; readig/video. About a minute.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ovct3m_4sZU

"A Dream Girl," by Carl Sandburg

One-minute video/reading of a nice little poem--in my opinion--by Carl Sandburg.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYj5NbZMCW0

"Marriage," by William Carlos Williams

Reading/video of 4-line poem by Williams. I think he about covers it.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8CU5M25HLk