In this episode of Life Lines, Dianne Bilyak talks to a trailblazing lesbian poet, child Holocaust survivor, and political activist, Irena Klepfisz. Her new book, Her Birth and Later Years, is the first complete collection of work that has spanned fifty years and cemented her place as a vital American voice. Stay tuned until the end to hear Irena read “A Few Words in the Mother Tongue,” her first bilingual poem. #linelinespodcast #lgbtqpoems #yiddishpoetry #poetry 

Order now using discount code Q301 to receive 30% off on weslpress.org. https://www.weslpress.org/9780819500168/her-birth-and-later-years/

Tune in to Life Lines to hear podcast host Dianne Bilyak and poet Abigail Chabitnoy discuss her new book, In the Current Where Drowning Is Beautiful. In her new book, Abigail reckons with the violent realities that Indigenous women overwhelmingly experience. Alutiiq language is used throughout these poems that are in conversation with history, ancestors, and an uncertain future. Stay tuned until the end to hear Abigail read from “Signs You Are Standing At The End” from her new collection. #indigenouspoetry #mmiwpoetry #lifelinespodcast

Order now using discount code Q301 to receive 30% off on weslpress.org. https://www.weslpress.org/9780819500137/in-the-current-where-drowning-is-beautiful/

https://www.salmonfisherpoet.com/

https://www.niwrc.org/

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/05/04/a-proclamation-on-missing-or-murdered-indigenous-persons-awareness-day-2022/

https://www.sovereign-bodies.org/

https://www.indian-affairs.org/resources--organizations-involved.html

https://www.uihi.org/projects/our-bodies-our-stories

Life Lines podcast host Dianne Bilyak is joined by iconoclastic poet Brenda Hillman to discuss her new book, In a Few Minutes Before Later, where the two examine daily events during a time of pandemic, planetary crisis, political, and racial turmoil. Stay tuned to the end of the episode to hear Brenda read “A Feeling Right Before the Feeling” from her new book, In a Few Minutes Before Later. #ecopoetry #naturepoems #lifelinespodcast

Order now using discount code Q301 to receive 30% off on weslpress.org. https://www.weslpress.org/9780819500151/in-a-few-minutes-before-later/

Follow Brenda Hillman on Instagram @brendahillman

In this episode, Life Lines podcast host Dianne Bilyak is joined by poet and professor Kerri Webster for an in-depth discussion about grief, familial lineage, spirituality, and much more. Stay tuned to the end of the episode to hear Kerri read “The Dead Teach Me Grounding Techniques” from Lapis. #americanwestpoetry #poetryofgrief #lifelinespodcast

Order now using discount code Q301 to receive 30% off on weslpress.org. https://www.weslpress.org/9780819500083/lapis/

Join Life Lines podcast host Dianne Bilyak and poet and novelist Jennifer Givhan as they take a deep dive into the themes of mother and daughter relationships, intergenerational trauma, and transformation and healing, in Jennifer’s new poetry collection, Belly to the Brutal. Stay tuned until the end so you can hear Jennifer's powerful reading of her poem “I Am Dark, I am Forrest” from her new book. #poetry #poetrylovers #brujapoeta #behindthebooks #lifelinespodcast

Order now using discount code Q301 to receive 30% off on welpress.org. https://www.weslpress.org/9780819580979/belly-to-the-brutal/

https://jennifergivhan.com/

Follow Jennifer Givhan on Instagram @jenngivhan, on Twitter @GivhanJenn, and on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenn.givhan.3/

In the first season of Life Lines: Poets in Conversation, hosted by Pushcart-prize nominated writer Dianne Bilyak, award-winning poets explore how poetry informs critical cultural discussions around grief, identity, womanhood, citizenship, environment, heritage, violence toward women, mother and daughter bonds, and generational trauma. Each guest poet has written a new book to introduce to the audience while also providing in-depth insights about the motivations behind the creation of the poetry, how the cover art connects to the work, and the themes explored in each book. Guest poets include Jennifer Givhan (Belly to the Brutal), Kerri Webster (Lapis), Brenda Hillman (In a Few Minutes Before Later), Abigail Chabitnoy (In the Current Where Drowning Is Beautiful), and Irena Klepfisz (Her Birth and Later Years). Each episode begins with a discussion on the genesis of each new poetry collection, and ends with a reading by the poet from their new book. Additionally, three out of five episodes include readings that contain other languages, including Spanish, Yiddish, and the Native Alaskan language, Altuiq. Life Lines is brought to you by Wesleyan University Press with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.