Episode #151 Hear the Dogs Crying - Christy Passion

Close Talking: A Poetry Podcast

Connor and Jack discuss the generation melding poem "Hear the Dogs Crying" by Christy Passion. They discuss the power of car radios, the way the language of the poem leaps along with its subject matter, and even arrive at new readings of the last stanza in real time. In the second part of the show, Connor recommends the recent adaptation of "Station 11" and Jack recommends the music of Amyl and the Sniffers and the web series "Sweet Home Ketteringa" hosted by British comedian, James Acaster. Read the full poem below, or, here: https://www.bambooridge.org/renshi/no-choice-but-to-follow/poem/490/ Hear the Dogs Crying By: Christy Passion A recording of her voice, an old woman's voice full of gravel and lead steeped through the car radio. She spoke of gathering limu visitors on ships, and dusty roads in Waianae. In the distance you could almost hear the dogs crying, the mullet wriggling in the fish bag Nostalgic for a tutu I never knew, I feel the ocean pulse inside me waves rolling over, pushing me till I leap from this car through the congested H-1 across the noise and ashen sky emerge beneath the rains in Nu'uanu. I move past the fresh water ponds past the guava trees towards homes with flimsy tin roofs where my father, already late for school, races up Papakolea with a kite made of fishing twine. Framed in a small kitchen window, tutu scrapes the meat from awa skin for dinner tonight, wipes her hands on old flour bags for dish cloths. She is already small and wants to forget I may be too late- I have tomatoes and onion from the market tutu my hand is out, my plate is empty and some bones for the dogs to stop their crying do you know my name? I am listening for your stories to call me in my hand is out, my plate is empty for your stories to show me the way tutu, do you know my name? Find us on Facebook at: facebook.com/closetalking Find us on Twitter at: twitter.com/closetalking Find us on Instagram: @closetalkingpoetry You can always send us an e-mail with thoughts on this or any of our previous podcasts, as well as suggestions for future shows, at [e-mail].