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Mary Jo Malo Podcast TTT Poetry Season 2

Season 2 Episode 48: Mary Jo Malo on a Poet’s Calling

A word has power
Whether mined by
demagogues
for control
or carved into stone
for memorial
It can carry us
into exile
From ourselves
From our homes
A word can steel
the heart
or build an edifice
of faith in the future
It sifts or unites
and defines
Yet
destroy the word
You steal
time.

Mary Jo Malo, Stele

Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia.

Thank you for listening in!

I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.  There are times when it is impossible to connect across the miles via technology.  Today, Mary Jo Malo and I are establishing a new dynamic in podcasting in the form of letter writing, which many consider a lost art.  And yet, Mary Jo and I believe that letter writing has not been forgotten.  

Together, Mary Jo and I designed a new way of letter writing by creating this podcast.   While Mary Jo cannot be present in the form of her actual voice,  her thoughts and insights are captured in a letter between friends  So put the kettle on and add to this vibrant discussion on Tea, Toast & Trivia. A very special thank you to Mary Jo, for heading into a new adventure in podcasting. 

Thank you dear listeners,  for joining Mary Jo and me on Tea Toast & Trivia. And a very special thank you and shout out to Mary Jo.  I invite you to meet up with Mary Jo on her blog, This Shining Wound, Original Poetry by Mary Jo Malo.  It is a place where the music of words dwell. Until next time, stay safe, be well.

Mary Jo Malo on a Poet’s Calling – Tea. Toast. & Trivia.

By Rebecca Budd

Blogger, Visual Storyteller, Podcaster, Traveler and Life-long Learner

31 replies on “Season 2 Episode 48: Mary Jo Malo on a Poet’s Calling”

I would love to have your thoughts on this new way of connecting. Sometimes our technology does not stretch to capture a conversation. Mary Jo has been a brilliant guide on how to embrace our poet’s calling. Whether we write poetry or are a reader of poetry – we enter into a profound exchange. I think of Alexander Pushkin’s decision to use poetry in Eugene Onegin. I cannot imagine it to be in any other format. Don and I are still talking about Eugene and Alexander – thanks to a remarkable translator! Have a wonderful day. Sending hugs!

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Good morning, Rebecca! I listened to the podcast this morning and was pleasantly surprised. It worked very well, not least because you have the perfect voice for it.
Just like the decision to use poetry, I think that the decision to use a letter exchange changes the whole concept. I think of famous letter novels, like Bram Stoker’s Dracula, for instance. It really changes the reader’s experience. Poetry often leaves more room for interpretation, but also more freedom for the poet to play with words, meanings, feelings. It’s a fascinating subject.
This was an inspiring and sparkling conversation, that gave me plenty of food for thought!
Hugs for you and Don!

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I agree 🙂 Rebecca really does have the most lovely voice and carried the podcast herself this time with her customary insightful questions and grace.

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Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback, Elisabeth. Over the past months, I have been going through my Father’s notes and letters, which has given me a sense of his life. His early letters had a strong cursive writing that had the boldness of youth starting out in life. As the years progressed, there were changes in strength until the last years, when his writing was almost illegible. But he never gave up on cursive writing. Your thoughts on Bram Stroker’s Dracula has sent me on another research project – and you know how much I love researching a new idea. A big thank you!!! Will be in touch! Hugs coming back with all speed from Don and me! Always an adventure.

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I love letter writing and am always seeking to find and to be a steady pen pal. These days I do most my letter writing through email. But I think there is something profoundly intimate in letter writing. Poet’s Calling resonates with me. I love your bold, new adventure. I’m inspired. Thank you!

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I am delighted that you listened in and for your heartwarming comments. You have made my day. Thank you. This winter my project is to go back to cursive writing. I have started the process and YIKES – I can’t read my own writing. I have become accustomed to typing and printing so that even my thought the process has changed. I did not know this would a consequence of taking a long, long, decades break from cursive writing. Always an adventure…

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I love of feeling of words in my mouth. They seem to come alive and float out into the universe. I read somewhere that Maya Angelou said that one day technology would be able to uncover words that have been spoken in the past. Something about words sticking to walls. So let’s keep on reading poetry and books out loud, even to an empty room. By the way, I am checking maps of Venice……

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Oh Liz, how interesting! I have often wondered about how poets bring together words. When I recite poetry words seem to have a life of their own, as if they are in some way singing to each other.

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Dave – thank you so much for your comments. There are a source of great encouragement to me, as is your generosity in sharing your insights on Tea Toast & Trivia. We live in a complex and uncertain world that continually challenges us to bring out best to the “global table.” This is what Mary Jo and you do – you give our readers a place to have life-affirming conversations that feed our souls and remind us that within community, we can learn, be comforted and healed.

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Ah, Rebecca and Mary Jo what a beautiful dialogue and how wonderful to listen to Rebecca’s sweet voice reading your letters and creative conversation, speaking from the heart. I loved listening both your ‘letters’ and Mary Jo’s ‘Navigate’. A thank you from my heart and hugs to both!

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Thank you so much for listening in and for your heartwarming comments, Marina! I was thrilled that Mary Jo shared her insights and poetry with us. Her generous spirit spreads joy within our community. Welcome to a new week of possibilities! Sending hugs back with all speed!

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I wasn’t expecting an epistolary podcast! It worked beautifully as a conversation.

I was so surprised to hear my interpretation of “Navigate” discussed. I’m glad to hear I was able to provide an additional perspective on one of my favorite poems of Mary’s.

After Mary’s discussion of her own creative process, I was delighted to hear her turn the table and ask Rebecca about hers. (I was delighted with Rebecca’s response as well.)

Another comment that resonated with me was that some experiences can only be expressed in poetry. I do so belief that. In fact, I would go so far as to say that every experience has its ideal form in which it needs to be expressed–poetry, short story, creative nonfiction, painting, jazz–the list goes on. We just have to find our way to it.

Now, I have an ask. Rebecca, you asked Mary Jo what makes poetry poetry, and I was intrigued by her answer. Being able to truly understand what makes poetry poetry and not prose broken into lines has eluded me for years. I can immediately tell the difference when I see it–but I can’t explain it. Would it be possible for you to have Mary Jo back to discuss the question in depth?

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Liz – you have the very very best ideas. I have sent off an “epistle” to Mary Jo and will await her reply. Thank you for your insightful comments – you add so much to my knowledge of poetry. I continue to learn and learn and learn. And that makes life interesting and meaningful. Sending many hugs!

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Excellent!
Great to hear Mary Jo speak on poetry, which has found new life in the blogosphere. I like what Mary Jo said about poetry/prose.
I like a lot of what is said here.
Navigate is wonderful. Doesn’t Rebecca do justice to writings with her readings?
A note aside: your voices are very similar, so it really helped when you kept referring to each other by name.
Be well, and Mary Jo, keep writing!
Rebecca keep on exposing artists with your podcasts!

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Thank you so much for your heartwarming comments, Resa. Actually, I was the voice reading e-mail letters between two friends. It is very difficult to connect with Mary Jo over WIFI so we decided to try a new format for podcasting – letters between friends. I really appreciated Mary Jo’s generosity in trying this new idea. Her poetry is remarkable and it inspires me to reflect and enjoy moments of solitude (we have plenty of opportunity for solitude these days). Hugs and love coming your way, Resa!

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