It's always better when we're together! This week's collaborative space discusses the art of collaboration. Katie, Tim & friends are joined by Nicole Tallman, who began collaborating on poetry with the late great Maureen Seaton, and has made collaborative poetry a focus of her work as poetry ambassador of Miami, sharing co-written poems in the process.

At the Table:

Katie Dozier

Timothy Green

Nicole Tallman

Brian O'Sullivan

Joe Barca

Dick Westheimer

Billy Collins has long been called the most popular poet in America, which makes him a divisive figure among poets. Is it just envy? Katie, Tim, and friends take a deep dive into his trademark wit and renowned accessibility to see what makes his poems tick—joined by special guests Gwendolyn Soper and Attracta Fahy.

Around the table:

Katie Dozier

Timothy Green

Gwendolyn Soper

Attracta Fahy

Dick Westheimer

Brian O'Sullivan

Joe Barca

Ekfa-what?! From the Greek word for "description," ekphrastic poetry was originally just that—poems that painted artwork into words. Over time, though, it's become it's own genre of using art as inspiration. Katie, Tim and friends discuss, joined by special guest and six-time winner of Rattle's Ekphrastic Challenge, Elizabeth McMunn-Tetangco.

Around the table:

Katie Dozier

Timothy Green

Elizabeth McMunn-Tetangco

Dick Westheimer

Joe Barca

Brian O'Sullivan

Under the influence of Lemmys™, Katie and Tim go on a date, exploring the meaning of verse and what led them both to making space for poetry in their lives.

Wendy Videlock joins the space as Katie, Tim, and friends discuss the dance in the mouth that are the sounds of poetry. Wendy shares several poems and talks about rhyme and repetition in the process of creation. At the table:

Katie Dozier

Timothy Green

Wendy Videlock

Joe Barca

Brian O'Sullivan

Dick Westheimer

Bob Hicok joins the space as Katie, Tim, and friends discuss that trance-like hypnotic state of being in the zone while writing a poem. This is the meditative space we all seek as writers—what is it, and how do we get there?

At the table:

Katie Dozier

Timothy Green

Bob Hicok

Erik Campbell

Brian O'Sullivan

Dick Westheimer

Joe Barca

Dating back to the 12th century, the sestina is one of poetry's knottiest forms, repeating 6 words 7 times in 39 lines. Katie, Tim, and friends wrestle with repetition as they discuss the form with successful sestina wranglers Kathleen McClung and Rebecca Snow, sharing some great poems along the way.

Abby E. Murray won 2024 Neil Postman Award for Metaphor for her poem "Supermoon." But who was Neil Postman, and where did this award come from? Katie, Tim, and friends are joined by Abby Murray and Erik Campbell, who conceived of the award way back in 2004.

At the table:

Katie Dozier

Timothy Green

Erik Campbell

Abby E. Murray

Dick Westheimer

Brian O'Sullivan

Joe Barca