Poems Link Kindness To Justice | Pour Over Poems

In this episode of Pour Over Poems, poet Geoff Anderson sits down with celebrated poet and editor Zoe Brigley to explore the intersections of heritage, identity, and the power of unconventional narratives.Zoe shares insights into her Welsh-American background, the revival of the Welsh language, and how the ancient myths of the Mabinogi—like the story of Blodeuwedd—continue to influence her writing today. We dive deep into her advocacy for authentic representations of women's lives, challenging stereotypes surrounding bisexuality, and her work with the "Women of Ohio" project.Zoe also performs a moving reading of her poem, "Hot Apple Cider," and discusses the importance of holding space and practicing kindness in the creative community.Welcome to Pour Over Poems, where host poet Geoff Anderson invites a poet out for coffee to hear one of their poems and then see where the discussion goes. In this video, we discuss:The origins of the name Brigley and Welsh-Irish roots.Exploring matriarchal influences and "difficult" women in poetry.The Welsh myth of Blodeuwedd (Flower Face) and its modern relevance.Challenging the silence and stereotypes of bisexual and pansexual identities.The "Women of Ohio" project: Celebrating hidden figures and real stories.Researching the complex life of Caitlin Thomas (wife of Dylan Thomas).The role of kindness and justice in poetry and community.00:00 - Welcome and introduction to Zoe Brigley.00:05 - Discussing the origin and pronunciation of the name "Brigley."01:05 - Zoe discusses her Welsh-American background and the poetry community in Wales.02:40 - Writing stories of women and unconventional lives.03:30 - The Welsh myth of Blodeuwedd (Flower Face).06:25 - The revival of the Welsh language.7:15 - Introduction to the poem "Hot Apple Cider."09:08 - Poem Reading: "Hot Apple Cider."11:28 - Balancing technical language and statistics in poetry.12:40 - Challenging stereotypes and representations of bisexual women.15:45 - Discussing the "Women of Ohio" project.18:15 - Advocating for real, unsterilized narratives of women's bodies and lives.20:40 - Writing about miscarriage and building a supportive community.24:45 - Researching unconventional lives: The story of Caitlin and Dylan Thomas.31:15 - Final thoughts on kindness, justice, and holding space for others.See part 2 with Zoe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrbwlCYKx-kGet a free podcast/mp3/audio version: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vAdMbaunOPziRoovm0K5P?si=pGDmsZ_1T9qjWzTR7KQeYg#PourOverPoems #poetry #diverses