A Failed Recluse

Niall Campbell speaks with host Hannah Lowe about love and labor, reading back catalogs, and being the kind of person who says “no.” Niall reads his poem “Good Night” and Deborah Digges’ poem “The Birthing.”

Jason Allen-Paisant joins host Hannah Lowe for a conversation about the pastoral and un-pastoral, using the lyric politically, and the joy of speculative poetry. Jason reads his poem “Walking with the Word ‘Tree’” and Wisława Szymborska’s poem “The Silence of Plants.”

Richard Scott chats with host Hannah Lowe about queer ancestors, deep time, supermarkets of the mind, and the lyric poem as illumination device. Scott reads his poem “Red Jasper” and Allen Ginsberg’s poem “A Supermarket in California.”

Mimi Khalvati speaks with host Hannah Lowe about Dylan Thomas’ reckless life, poetic forms as an antidote to modernity, and learning to pronounce her own name. Mimi reads her poem “Coma” and Dylan Thomas’ “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night.”

Joelle Taylor joins host Hannah Lowe to discuss the heterogeneity of queer culture, female eroticism without the male gaze, poems as movie trailers, and more. Joelle reads her poem “Psalm” and an excerpt from Danez Smith’s poem “summer, somewhere.”

Menna Elfyn chats with host Hannah Lowe about writing in Welsh and English, overturning syntax, and finding common ground through shared language. Menna reads her poem “Let the World’s People Sing” in Welsh and English and R. S. Thomas’ poem “Don’t Ask Me.”

Arji Manuelpillai joins Hannah Lowe for a discussion of myths and fairy tales, rabbit holes of natural wonder, and what it takes to write a poem for the Princess of Wales. Arji reads his poem “The Crocodile” and Matthew Dickman’s poem “Goblin.”The full transcript, copies of the poems and Arji's bio can be found here. The Glimpse is a production of the Adrian Brinkerhoff Poetry Foundation. Senior Producer: Jennifer WolfeTechnical Director/Mixing Engineer: Kat YoreEditorial Director/Curator/Production Coordinator: Amanda Glassman

Liz Berry speaks with host Hannah Lowe about joy and resistance, making the poems you’re desperate for, and the secret language of friendship between poets. Liz reads her poem “The Republic of Motherhood” and “Childbed” by Fiona Benson.The full transcript, copies of the poems and Liz's bio can be found hereThe Glimpse is a production of the Adrian Brinkerhoff Poetry Foundation. Senior Producer: Jennifer WolfeTechnical Director/Mixing Engineer: Kat YoreEditorial Director/Curator/Production Coordinator: Amanda Glassman

Meet Hannah Lowe, our host for this season of The Glimpse. Hannah introduces herself, sharing how she came to poetry, her current poetry project inspired by her Chinese-Jamaican aunt, and how she conceptualized this season of UK poets. She reads her poems “Jamaican-Forget-Me-Not” and “Shame Old Lady.”Full transcript, copies of the poems and Hannah's bio can be found hereThe Glimpse is a production of the Adrian Brinkerhoff Poetry Foundation.Senior Producer: Jennifer WolfeTechnical Director/Mixing Engineer: Kat YoreEditorial Director/Curator/Production Coordinator: Amanda Glassman

The Glimpse is back with a new season of engaging conversations with poets, as they share their own work and poems that have influenced them.This season, host Hannah Lowe chats with poets from around the UK. Liz Berry, Arji Manuelpillai, Menna Elfyn, Joelle Taylor, Mimi Khalvati, Richard Scott, Jason Allen-Paisant, and Niall Campbell each choose two poems to read and discuss: one they’ve written, and one by another poet. The season's first episode next week will introduce you to Hannah and her work. The Glimpse: A Poetry Podcast is produced by the Adrian Brinkerhoff Poetry Foundation, with new episodes available each Tuesday starting in June 2026.