67: IMRAM festival, Kelly Michels' American Anthem

Send us Fan MailFirst up on today's show, I chat with Liam Carson, who is back again with another episode of the Irish language Festival, IMRAM. And we hear from Kelly Michels, whose Forward Prize shortlisted debut collection,  American Anthem, published by Gallery Press this year, focuses on the tragedies both personal and national, of the opioid epidemic and its devastating effects of addiction and of gun violence in America, where the poet grew up. We talk to Kelly about growing up in the U.S., writing about her mother's addiction,  the mass shootings in her home town and her take on the American anthem.. Kelly's Toaster Challenge choice is 'Starlight Scope Myopia' by Yusef Komunyakaa, from his Pulitzer Prize-winning book of selected poems, Neon Vernacular.Intro/outro music: Colm Mac Con Iomaire, ‘Thou Shalt Not Carry’ from The Hare’s Corner, 2008, with thanks to Colm for permission to use it. Incidental musicScott Buckley, Emmit Fenn.Logo by Freya SirrTo subscribe to Books for Breakfast go to your podcast provider of choice (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google etc) and search for the podcast then hit subscribe or follow, or simply click the appropriate button above. Support the show