Skip to main content
What Are Poems

What Are Poems

By Jacob Davies

A man living inside his own head searches for the meaning of poetry while reading works by real poets and writing poems himself.

You can submit your own poems to the podcast at whatarepoemspodcast@gmail.com

(peace and love peace and love, beef jerky)

Visit www.bonfire.com/what-are-shirts/ to purchase the official WHAT ARE POEMS T-Shirt.
Available on
Google Podcasts Logo
Overcast Logo
Pocket Casts Logo
RadioPublic Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

What Are PoemsApr 12, 2024

00:00
24:43
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I’ve returned with my rich buddy Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Apr 12, 202424:43
W.S. Merwin

W.S. Merwin

W.S. Merwin he's marrying women, he's writing poetry, he may have written a dark version of the Lorax. 

Nov 13, 202221:48
Robert Lax

Robert Lax

What's this? No scandal? A good man, writing good things who ends up in Greece (not exiled, just alone, but not alone at all) It's Robert Lax on What are Poems! 

Jul 21, 202233:22
Frank O'Hara

Frank O'Hara

He is on the pulse of Late-60's New York City.  A friend of all artist -- Frank O'Hara.  I discuss a harrowing tale of hammers I heard second hand. 

Jul 14, 202227:26
The Star-Spangled Banner

The Star-Spangled Banner

Two men choke on grapes in this episode. 

Jul 03, 202226:23
Marianne Moore

Marianne Moore

Marianne Moore was out there. Another poet who's father has a psychotic break. Another poet who was writing, and breathing and living and dying in times before our times. Also: She sums up what I've been trying to say in her poem "Poetry"
Jun 24, 202227:52
Baxter Black

Baxter Black

NPR contributor, poet, and philosopher Baxter Black's poems are read.  I regret making fun of Ronald Reagan in a twist of fate I never saw coming. 

Jun 20, 202223:55
Rupert Brooke

Rupert Brooke

It's everyone in England's biggest crush: Rupert Brooke.  

Jun 13, 202229:52
John Gillespie Magee Jr.

John Gillespie Magee Jr.

It's a vivid, quick, important life on What Are Poems today. It's reaching back for inspiration and that inspiration reverberating for generations. Hey! Have you ever had a Rolling Rock Beer? 

May 21, 202232:04
Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln may or may not have written a poem about suicide in 1838.  A reading, an investigation, thoughts of Lizzie McGuire.  

May 14, 202232:48
Dorothy Wordsworth

Dorothy Wordsworth

The sister of William Wordsworth gets some thoughts.  My buddy Phil reads a poem at around 4 AM in my home.  My buddy Noah says "May I?" A little taste of friendship and the friends we keep on WHAT ARE POEMS. 

May 07, 202223:50
Allen Ginsberg

Allen Ginsberg

It's Ginsberg. He's just as I thought he would be. 

Apr 30, 202224:39
Gerda Mayer

Gerda Mayer

Number 50! and it's Gerda Mayer (refugee, poet) OPERATION KINDERTRANSPORT.  What happened in Jim Thorpe? 

Apr 23, 202229:41
12 Minutes on Easter (Amy Lowell Returns)

12 Minutes on Easter (Amy Lowell Returns)

Quick holiday episode, folks! My thoughts on the top, Amy Lowell mentions a rabbit, we wish each other well. 

Apr 16, 202212:34
Jimmy Stewart (And His Poem)

Jimmy Stewart (And His Poem)

The short story of American film actor James Stewart and the poem he wrote about his dog. (A sort of Special What are POEMS). I read a poem and let you know about some exclusive merch (available at: https://www.bonfire.com/what-are-shirts/)
Apr 09, 202224:32
Don Welch

Don Welch

Stumbled upon this Don Welch fella. Got into his poems, kept reading them throughout the whole podcast.  Neat one. Quiet one.  What are Poems. 

Apr 02, 202221:25
Ovid

Ovid

It's Ovid on a LATE NIGHT EPISODE of WHAT ARE POEMS.  Hey! How about Ovid? He's not raised by horse people (I just haven't gone to bed yet) but he is writing erotic poems in Ancient Rome.  Here we go. 

Mar 26, 202228:36
Anne Bradstreet

Anne Bradstreet

She's born when the only thing going on is shoeing horses. She founds Boston (James Brown saves it) She's writing poetry (All the men are shaking their heads) It's Anne Bradstreet. (The Queen of Clam Chowder)

Mar 19, 202227:32
Pauli Murray

Pauli Murray

You want to feel like you haven't done anything yet today? Get a load of the life and times of Pauli Murray (lawyer, priest, activist, author and poet) 

Mar 12, 202225:01
Etheridge Knight

Etheridge Knight

Stunned by Etheridge Knight. New Favorite Poet. He was doing it. Cursing, Swearing, Inspiring, Sir?! Hatin Regan, bringing people up into the light. I continue to tease out what happened between me and Phil over soccer...
Mar 05, 202221:20
Amy King

Amy King

Poet and Activist Amy King's poems are read.  I wonder about the fight at the Golden Corral Buffet. 

Feb 26, 202221:01
Muses (Maud Gonne)

Muses (Maud Gonne)

Forget Yeats - let's do this.  Muses and Yeat's Muse herself, Maud Gonne, are the topic of discussion.  A poem about soup is read. 

Feb 19, 202223:20
W.B. Yeats

W.B. Yeats

I fail miserably at tackling the topic of Yeats.  

Oct 11, 202119:39
Mary Oliver

Mary Oliver

This lady was out in the woods! 

Sep 26, 202122:41
Homer

Homer

I return for an actual second season after an epiphany while mopping a floor. 

Sep 16, 202124:24
Stephen Dunn

Stephen Dunn

Stephen Dunn, American Poet who played basketball, is discussed in and around thought-tangents. 

Jul 08, 202122:30
John Keats (Part Three)

John Keats (Part Three)

SEASON 2 begins with JOHN KEATS PART 3 

Jun 15, 202120:14
John Keats (Part Two)

John Keats (Part Two)

Keats is a doctor in this EPISODE 

Apr 12, 202123:04
John Keats (Part One)

John Keats (Part One)

Hey! It's John Keats and it's the First Part of a Three Part Season Finale. 

Apr 07, 202116:38
Robot Poetry (A Very Special Episode)

Robot Poetry (A Very Special Episode)

I explore the evolution of robot poetry 

Mar 29, 202118:29
Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar

It's Paul Laurence Dunbar! and it's all fun and games and achievements until he drops the ball at the very end. 

Mar 21, 202118:52
Rainer Maria Rilke

Rainer Maria Rilke

What's going on with this guys early life? Holy Crow! My cats almost get out. 

Mar 14, 202118:10
Amy Lowell

Amy Lowell

Amy Lowell knocks it out of the park with her poem "Bath" - I also read a poem about a bath. In a Very Special Bath Episode of WHAT ARE POEMS?
Mar 07, 202119:23
Lawrence Ferlinghetti

Lawrence Ferlinghetti

Lawrence Ferlinghetti doesn't hit as hard as I suspect he will. My poem "American Legion" is read.
Feb 28, 202120:59
Philip Levine

Philip Levine

Detroit poet Philip Levine is explored. How about Nature Documentaries?
Feb 22, 202119:12
Roses Are Red (An Origin Story)

Roses Are Red (An Origin Story)

The origins of Roses are Red are explored, and Thomas Crapper gets some thoughts.
Feb 14, 202118:45
Amanda Gorman

Amanda Gorman

Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman is discussed along with the idea that Stenonychosaurus could have evolved into a dinosaur man. 

Feb 08, 202125:04
Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss

How about it? Dr. Seuss? I read Yertle the Turtle and get so exhausted I can't compose my own poem.
Jan 31, 202122:27
Rhina P. Espaillat

Rhina P. Espaillat

Rhina P. Espaillat who is currently in the news is discussed. My friend Phil's poem is read.
Jan 24, 202116:00
Eavan Boland

Eavan Boland

Eavan Boland (Irish Poet) makes for a very (Irish Poet) episode as your host is informed of the closure of his favorite Dinette.
Jan 18, 202117:30
Quincy Troupe

Quincy Troupe

Quincy Troupe's jazzy take on poetry

Jan 12, 202120:10
Karl Shapiro

Karl Shapiro

Karl Shapiro, son of Baltimore is explored. 

Jan 04, 202119:53
Billy Collins

Billy Collins

Billy Collins is explored. Dueling poems about the Susquehanna river are read. 

Dec 29, 202021:08
The Night Before Christmas

The Night Before Christmas

Happy Holidays from What Are Poems?!

Dec 22, 202013:40
H.D.

H.D.

Manic-Pixie-Dream-Girl H.D. (Hilda Doolittle) is finally discussed in full.  I think about DVDS. 

Dec 15, 202016:47
Joy Harjo

Joy Harjo

Poet, musician, playwright, and author Joy Harjo is discussed and my own brother sends me in a poem.
Dec 08, 202013:55
Seamus Heaney

Seamus Heaney

20th Century Poet Seamus Heaney is discussed, my own poem "Deborah" is read. 

Dec 02, 202020:51
Edna St. Vincent Millay

Edna St. Vincent Millay

Original scene girl Edna St. Vincent Milllay is explored and my poem "You put the Beans out" is read.
Nov 14, 202016:06
William Carlos Williams

William Carlos Williams

William Carlos Williams is explored. 

Nov 09, 202012:49
Adrienne Rich

Adrienne Rich

Adrienne Rich and her poetry is explored and the secret meaning behind MaGilla Gorilla is revealed.
Oct 31, 202015:54