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Words That BurnA Podcast About Poetry Author: Benjamin Collopy
Are you curious about poetry but find it a bit intimidating? Tune into Words that Burn, the podcast that aims to demystify poetry, one captivating poem at a time.Hosted by Ben, an Irish poetry enthusiast, this podcast takes a closer look at the world of poetic expression and technique.Each episode offers a comprehensive analysis of a selected poem, exploring the poet's biography, the cultural and historical backdrop, and the literary techniques that make these works profoundly moving.Whether you're a seasoned poetry aficionado or a curious beginner, Words that Burn provides an engaging and approachable way to enhance your appreciation and understanding of poetry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Language: en Genres: Arts, Books, Education Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Shannon Kuta Kelly on Liminal Spaces, Folklore, and Her Debut Collection The Tree is Missing
Wednesday, 25 March, 2026
In this episode of Words That Burn, I sit down with poet Shannon Kuta Kelly to explore the beautifully haunting landscapes of her debut poetry collection, The Tree is Missing (coming this April from Faber and Faber).Shannon’s work has been featured in the New England Review, Poetry Ireland Review, and The Irish Times. As a PhD graduate from the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's University Belfast and a 2025 Ciaran Carson Fellow, she brings a profound depth of knowledge and intuition to her craft. We discuss the tension between the past and present, the eerie realities of urbanisation, and how transient living shapes our identities.This episode explores:The Meaning of "The Tree is Missing": Unpacking the symbolic, ecological, and geographical resonances behind the collection's title.Liminality and Urban Sprawl: How manmade borders, transient city living, and the meeting point between nature and concrete influence her writing.History’s Phantom Limbs: Grounding the tragic, echoing histories of places like Tarnów, Poland, through human-centric storytelling and everyday images.Folklore and Dream Logic: Why poetry and myth are a "match made in heaven," and how Shannon taps into our shared subconscious and collective symbols.An Exclusive Reading: Shannon treats us to a reading of her poignant poem, Gost, and discusses the linguistic overlap between "ghosts" and "guests."Whether you are a writer looking for advice on peeling back the layers of your own poetry or a reader fascinated by the intersection of myth and reality, Shannon’s insights are not to be missed.Follow the Podcast:Read the Script on SubstackFollow the Podcast On InstagramFollow the Podcast on X/TwitterFollow the Podcast on TiktokFollow the podcast on BlueskyTime Stamps:00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro01:05 Why The Tree Is Missing02:25 Borders Urban Sprawl Erasure03:33 Liminal Life and POV Shifts04:49 Observing Strangers and Details06:00 From Reality to Spare Images08:43 Tarnov and Haunted History12:44 Storytelling Women and Three Sisters15:20 Poetic Truth and Let It Be August16:58 Endings Claustrophobia and Book Shape19:58 Editing Influences and Breathing Space22:28 Decay in Pastoral Scenes24:56 Folklore and Poetic Logic26:48 Two Brothers Divided29:31 Nostalgia and Lost Homes32:11 Dream Time Symbols34:45 How Poems Are Collected36:07 Gost Guests and Ghosts39:50 Refrain and Repetition42:05 Advice for other poets Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
