Episode 159: Back Among the Thumbs

Slushies! We’re delighted to have our own Marion Wrenn back at the table, throwing thumbs yea or nay. And Karen Hildebrand had so much fun discussing summer reads in our last episode, she decided to join us for another show (we welcome her back with only minor hazing). Today we’re discussing two poems by K. Hari. The first, “Rage Yoga After Roe”, gets us thinking about female spaces and friendships. We discuss what kind of poems can stand-alone and which ones are best in a manuscript when other poems can inform their narrative.   The second poem, “Proof of Relationship”, digs deep into multiple layers of memory in relation to what is and isn’t evident in a photograph. What does it mean when a couple must perform their relationship in order to prove it in an official capacity? The theme of governmental intrusion into one’s personal life in the form of immigration interviews resonates with the team. Our New Yorkers recognize certain landmarks mentioned in the poem, including the Vessel in Hudson Yards. And Jason gives it to us straight —New Yorkers ARE judging your fashion choices. We end with our terrible memories of the utter despair of Zoom dance parties. Thanks, as always, for listening.   At the table: Karen Hildebrand, Samantha Neugebauer, Jason Schneiderman, Kathleen Volk Miller, Marion Wrenn, Lisa Zerkle, Derek Grebis (sound engineer)     Author Bio: K. Hari (she/her) is a physician and poet of Tamil descent, whose work explores embodied heritage through poetic formalism. Her writing can be found in publications such as the New Orleans Review, the Journal, and the Margins, among others. She is winner of the 2024 Plentitudes Poetry Prize and the 2026 Third Coast Poetry Prize. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from New York University and is a practicing obstetrician-gynecologist. She welcomes you to connect with her via Instagram: @scribeinscrubs.   Social media: @scribeinscrubs   Rage Yoga After Roe Proof of Relationship