Poetry Please

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BBC Radio 4 FM

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Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Roger McGough introduces selections of poetry on various themes, chosen by listeners.

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Poetry Please: Simon Armitage

Simon Armitage

BBC Radio 4 - Poetry Please, Simon Armitage

The Poet Laureate makes his pick of listeners' choices.

The Poet Laureate Simon Armitage is Roger McGough's guest with his pick of listeners' favourite poems.  Many have an environmental theme and Simon talks about his responsibility as a poet to write about the natural world.  There's also the chance to hear his own translation of an old English text documenting an argument between The Owl and The Nightingale

The programme includes:

Shakespeare - from Richard II 
from The Owl and the Nightingale (anonymous - translated by Simon Armitage) 
Alison Brackenbury - Honeycomb 
Lorna Goodison - My Mother’s Sea Chanty
Shivanee Ramlochan - Caracara (or Kiskadee Bride)
William Wordsworth - a section from Michael 
Thomas Hardy - A Light Snow-Fall After Frost
Wilfred Owen - Parable of the Old Man and the Young 

Producer: Maggie Ayre

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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Poetry Please

Simon Armitage

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