In this episode — the podcast’s debut conversation about poetry — Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts and I speak about bestiaries and fables, haiku and haibun, when to say less, some perils in emphasizing publication, the east coast poetry establishment, Robinson Jeffers, teaching poetry, how poets of democracies perpetuate the myths of democracy, the nature of sacrifice, advice to young writers, and much more!
Elliot reads the following poems he authored: “Little Poem Temple,” “Walking Stick for Jonathan Cleaverman”, the introduction to his bestiary “The Hummingbird Blesses the Day,” “Gopher” and “Unau” from his aforementioned bestiary, “Sitting at the Window During a Downpour” and “First Tick of the Season.” A poem he reads entitled “In My House” is by a former student of his.
This podcast was recorded at Elliot’s home in Carmel, California. I have been visiting Carmel since I was a child—I am originally from California—and so being able to speak with Elliot in a state and a region that is so dear to me was very special.
For the record, on air Elliot estimates how many counties there are in California during the episode. There are 58 counties in California.
Guest Biography:
Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts serves as President of the Robinson Jeffers Tor House Foundation.* He also coordinates the Foundation’s annual Prize for Poetry and serves as a tour docent. He coordinated the National Endowment for the Arts “The Big Read: The Poetry of Robinson Jeffers,” during which he read and performed Jeffers’s poetry at venues throughout Monterey County, including local libraries, high schools and colleges.
He is the author White Fire, a collection of poems published by The Ping-Pong Free Press of the Henry Miller Memorial Library; co-editor/co-translator of two works from the Telugu, Sudha (Nectar) by Chalam and The Selected Verses of Vemana, both of which have been accepted into UNESCO’s Collection of Representative Works: Indian Series; and co-author of Bowing to Receive the Mountain: Essays by Lin Jensen and Poetry by Elliot Roberts. His poetry has appeared in various journals and anthologies.
Professor Emeritus at Monterey Peninsula College where he taught composition, literature, public speaking and humanities for 32 years, Ruchowitz-Roberts served for some twenty-five years as Poet-in-the-Schools for the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts during which time he conducted poetry writing workshops in high schools throughout Monterey County and coordinated the annual Monterey County High School Poetry Awards.
*The Robinson Jeffers Tor House Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve and maintain Tor House, Hawk Tower and their collections; to promote the literary and philosophical legacy of poet Robinson Jeffers (1887-1962); and to serve as a cultural resource to the community. On December 16, 2024, U.S Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland designated Tor House a National Historic Landmark. For information about the Foundation, tours, events and programs, visit torhouse.org.
Related Links:
The Big Read Reader Resources, The Poetry of Robinson Jeffers: Link Here
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