Poetry as a Small Gesture: Finding Meaning in the Everyday with Candice M. Kelsey

Welcome to Loblolly Press: In Conversation, where we explore the voices shaping contemporary Southern literature. In this episode, I sit down with Candice M. Kelsey, a poet, educator, and activist whose work captures the fleeting nature of time, the power of language, and the deep need for connection.We talk about the ways poetry functions in both personal and public spaces—how it preserves what might otherwise slip away, how it provides a lens for understanding the world, and how it offers an antidote to loneliness. Candice shares her journey into poetry, the ways teaching continues to shape her writing, and the role of creativity in navigating grief, change, and belonging.We also talk about Jackie and Shadow, two bald eagles nesting in Big Bear Valley, whose live feed has been a quiet presence in our days—a reminder of the patience and persistence required in both poetry and life.Candice’s Work📚 Postcards from the Masthead, boats against the current – Read More📚 The Poet Dreams of Driving a Ding-a-Ling Ice Cream Truck & Other Means of Escape (Pine Row Press) – Read More📖 Forthcoming: Another Place Altogether (Kelsay Books, December 2025) – Read More🎨 Cover art for her chapbook was created by Matt Kish – Explore His WorkConnect with Candice💻 Website: candicemkelseypoet.com📍 Instagram: @Feed_Me_PoetryUp Next on the PodcastNext month, I’ll be talking with Cheryl Whitehead about her debut collection of poems, Distant Relations, which comes out April 3, 2025 from Loblolly Press.📖 Preorder Now – loblollypress.com/products/distant-relations🎤 Hosted by: Andrew Mack📖 Guest: Candice M. Kelsey🎧 Produced by: Loblolly Press🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts—don’t forget to like, subscribe, download, and leave a review to help others discover the voices of Loblolly Press.📚 Follow us on Instagram: @loblolly_press📰 Subscribe to our newsletter on Substack for updates on new episodes, book releases, and more. Get full access to Loblolly Press on Substack at loblollypress.substack.com/subscribe