Poetry Unbound: 50 Poems To Open Your World

Riffing off his phenomenally popular podcast, Poetry Unbound, Irish poet and theologian Ó Tuama (In the Shelter: Finding a Home in the World) offers a curated selection of 50 poems—“fifty little doors” that open “memories, associations, fantasies, desires and pain.” Poetry is about the human condition. Some say that it is meant to be spoken aloud, as it is here. In the telling, listeners may find unexpected personal connections and revelations, perhaps even pondering the “why” of human existence. This collection features mostly modern-day poets, including Margaret Atwood, Ilya Kaminsky, Ada Limón, and Ocean Vuong, to name just a few. Ó Tuama reads these poems in his lyrical Dublin accent, which is rhythmic and sweet. His voice is calming and comforting, and his discussion of the poems is insightful. Sometimes he shares personal anecdotes that will help listeners relate to the poems and understand the writer’s journey.