A Lovely Wallpaper

In this episode, Abby visits the Thomas Mann House in Los Angeles. She speaks with the house's programming director, Benno Herz about the Mann family's years of exile from Nazi Germany and the community they found in their adopted city. There is no poem, but instead, for a special Halloween episode, a spooky (and funny) passage from The Magic Mountain -- a ghost is summoned and starts reciting poetry.

In this episode, Abby has a second conversation with Darryl Pinckney and he presents “In Paris with You” by James Fenton, a poem which Darryl himself inspired. Recitation begins at 66:33. In Paris with You James Fenton Don't talk to me of love. I've had an earful And I get tearful when I've downed a drink or two. I'm one of your talking wounded. I'm a hostage. I'm maroonded. But I'm in Paris with you. Yes I'm angry at the way I've been bamboozled And resentful at the mess that I've been through. I admit I'm on the rebound And I don't care where are we bound. I'm in Paris with you. Do you mind if we do not go to the Louvre, If we say sod off to sodding Notre Dame, If we skip the Champs Elysees And remain here in this sleazy Old hotel room Doing this and that, To what and whom Learning who you are, Learning what I am. Don't talk to me of love. Let's talk of Paris, The little bit of Paris in our view. There's that crack across the ceiling And the hotel walls are peeling And I'm in Paris with you. Don't talk to me of love. Let's talk of Paris. I'm in Paris with the slightest thing you do. I'm in Paris with your eyes, your mouth, I'm in Paris with...all points south. Am I embarrassing you? I'm in Paris with you.

In the first half of this special double episode, Abby interviews Darryl Pinckney, novelist and critic, and discusses his book Come Back in September: A Literary Education on West Sixty-seventh Street, Manhattan, which is about his mentor writer Elizabeth Hardwick. Together, they present “Crossing the Water” by Sylvia Plath. Recitation begins at 60:20. Crossing the Water Sylvia Plath Black lake, black boat, two black, cut-paper people. Where do the black trees go that drink here? Their shadows must cover Canada. A little light is filtering from the water flowers. Their leaves do not wish us to hurry: They are round and flat and full of dark advice. Cold worlds shake from the oar. The spirit of blackness is in us, it is in the fishes. A snag is lifting a valedictory, pale hand; Stars open among the lilies. Are you not blinded by such expressionless sirens? This is the silence of astounded souls.

In this episode, Abby visits the 2026 Southern California Renaissance Pleasure Faire. She speaks with a jeweler's apprentice / master navigator, a pen maker from the guild of St. Cuthbert, a beekeeper, a singing cook from the outer Hebrides, and a puritan. They present “Dreams” by Robert Herrick. The poem is repeated in many voices throughout the program, but the final recitation is at 30:32. Dreams Robert Herrick Here we are all, by day: by night we’re hurled By dreams, each one into a several world.

In this episode, Abby interviews Nora Lange, novelist and short story writer, about her books Us Fools and Day Care. Together, they present “Collaboration with Fly” by Lydia Davis. Recitation begins at 60:32. Collaboration with Fly Lydia Davis I put the word on the page but he added the apostrophe.

In this episode, Abby interviews Andrew Seguin, poet and translator, about his books The Room in Which I Work, a poetic exploration of the early photographer Nicéphore Niépce, and Earthly, his new selected translations of French poet Jean Follain. Together, they present “The Worth of Bread” by Jean Follain. Recitation begins at 42:02. The Worth of Bread Jean Follain Listening with his hands on the table where the insects crawl someone sees time wince the russet plain spreads wide with its dried-up river the pleasures of the flesh have gone by night falls fast bringing its probing lamps nothing remains but the worth of bread with white eyes from which a slice is taken in the dark.

Guest Robert Pogue Harrison, professor of Italian and French literature at Stanford, discusses his long running radio program "Entitled Opinions (about Life and Literature)." He presents “A Nocturnal upon St. Lucy's Day,” by John Donne. Recitation begins at 36:21. 'Tis the year's midnight, and it is the day's, Lucy's, who scarce seven hours herself unmasks; The sun is spent, and now his flasks Send forth light squibs, no constant rays; The world's whole sap is sunk; The general balm th' hydroptic earth hath drunk, Whither, as to the bed's feet, life is shrunk, Dead and interr'd; yet all these seem to laugh, Compar'd with me, who am their epitaph. *** But I am none; nor will my sun renew. You lovers, for whose sake the lesser sun At this time to the Goat is run To fetch new lust, and give it you, Enjoy your summer all; Since she enjoys her long night's festival, Let me prepare towards her, and let me call This hour her vigil, and her eve, since this Both the year's, and the day's deep midnight is.

In this episode, Abby interviews poet Selma Asotić about her English language debut Say Fire, a beautiful book about families, language, and trauma in post-war Sarajevo. Together, they present "Let Us Praise the Mutilated World" by Adam Zagajewski.Recitation begins 1:05:10Try to Praise the Mutilated WorldBy Adam ZagajewskiTranslated By Clare CavanaghRemember June's long days,and wild strawberries, drops of rosé wine.The nettles that methodically overgrowthe abandoned homesteads of exiles.You must praise the mutilated world.You watched the stylish yachts and ships;one of them had a long trip ahead of it,while salty oblivion awaited others.You've seen the refugees going nowhere,you've heard the executioners sing joyfully.You should praise the mutilated world.Remember the moments when we were togetherin a white room and the curtain fluttered.Return in thought to the concert where music flared.You gathered acorns in the park in autumnand leaves eddied over the earth's scars.Praise the mutilated worldand the gray feather a thrush lost,and the gentle light that strays and vanishesand returns.

This special October episode features a ghost story from William Maxwell's novel The Château. It's set in a harsh, old-fashioned classroom where kids recite their lessons, and its haunting force is a shapeshifting memory double—very much in our “A Lovely Wallpaper” wheelhouse. Guest reader: Christine Schutt, author of Pure Hollywood, Prosperous Friends, All Souls, and several more. No poem, no interview this time—just understated, literary thrills and chills!

In this episode, Abby interviews art historian Marie Warsh about her book Central Park's Adventure-Style Playgrounds, about growing up surrounded by poetry and art on the Lower East side, and about her work to revive the legacies of unsung female artists. Together, they present an excerpt of “The Garden” by Bernadette Mayer, Marie's mother.Recitation begins at 45:50from "The Garden" by Bernadette MayerIf all our eyes had the clarity of applesIn a world as alteredAs if by the wood betonyAnd all kinds of basil were the only riders of the landIt would be good to be togetherBoth under and above the groundTo be sane as the madwort,Ripe as corn, safe as sage,Various as dusty miller and hens & chickens,In politics as kindly fierce and dragonlike as tarragon,Revolutionary as the lily.