This week, on The ABR Podcast, Felicity Plunkett reviews Fear Less: Poetry in perilous times, by former US Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith. In a cultural moment when language is often ‘weaponised to cultivate division and fear’, Smith proposes a more audacious alternative: to live otherwise, refusing to succumb to ‘hot takes and livid tirades’. Smith’s call for ‘urgent compassion’, Plunkett writes, positions poetry as a means of fostering ‘careful listening and mutual respect’. Poetry insists, Smith writes, that ‘your life must be as important to you as mine is to me’. 

Felicity Plunkett is the ABR Poetry Editor and a poet and critic. Her latest work, A Kinder Sea, is published by the University of Queensland Press. Here is Felicity Plunkett with ‘Urgent compassion: Paying courageous attention’, published in the April issue of ABR.  

This week, on&nbsp;The&nbsp;ABR&nbsp;Podcast, Felicity Plunkett reviews&nbsp;Fear Less: Poetry in perilous times, by former US Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith. In a&nbsp;cultural&nbsp;moment when&nbsp;language is often&nbsp;&lsquo;weaponised to cultivate division and fear&rsquo;,&nbsp;Smith proposes a more audacious alternative: to live otherwise, refusing&nbsp;to succumb to&nbsp;&lsquo;hot takes and livid&nbsp;tirades&rsquo;.&nbsp;Smith&rsquo;s&nbsp;call&nbsp;for &lsquo;urgent compassion&rsquo;,&nbsp;Plunkett writes,&nbsp;positions poetry as a&nbsp;means of fostering&nbsp;&lsquo;careful listening and mutual respect&rsquo;.&nbsp;Poetry&nbsp;insists, Smith writes,&nbsp;that&nbsp;&lsquo;your life must be as important to you as mine is to&nbsp;me&rsquo;.&nbsp;
Felicity Plunkett is&nbsp;the&nbsp;ABR&nbsp;Poetry Editor and a poet and critic. Her latest work,&nbsp;A Kinder Sea, is published by the University of Queensland Press. Here is Felicity Plunkett with &lsquo;Urgent compassion: Paying courageous attention&rsquo;, published in the April issue of ABR.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Welcome to The ABR Podcast, produced by Australian Book Review. Released every Thursday, The ABR Podcast features a range of literary highlights, such as reviews, poetry, fiction, interviews, and commentary. Subscribe on iTunes, Google, or Spotify Podcasts, or whichever app you use to listen to your favourite podcasts.

For more information about ABR, visit our website, www.australianbookreview.com.au

Welcome to The ABR Podcast, produced by Australian Book Review. Released every Thursday, The ABR Podcast features a range of literary highlights, such as reviews, poetry, fiction, interviews, and commentary. Subscribe on iTunes, Google, or Spotify Podcasts, or whichever app you use to listen to your favourite podcasts.
For more information about&nbsp;ABR, visit our website, <a href="http://www.australianbookreview.com.au">www.australianbookreview.com.au</a>

Welcome to The ABR Podcast, produced by Australian Book Review. Released every Thursday, The ABR Podcast features a range of literary highlights, such as reviews, poetry, fiction, interviews, and commentary. Subscribe on iTunes, Google, or Spotify Podcasts, or whichever app you use to listen to your favourite podcasts.

The ABR Podcast

ABR is delighted to introduce its brand-new podcast, The ABR Podcast.

Released fortnightly every Wednesday, The ABR Podcast will feature a range of literary highlights, such as reviews, poetry, fiction, interviews, and commentary. Subscribe on the iTunes, Google, or Spotify Podcasts, or whichever app you use to listen to your favourite podcasts.

ABR&nbsp;is delighted to introduce its brand-new podcast,&nbsp;The ABR Podcast.
Released fortnightly every Wednesday,&nbsp;The ABR Podcast&nbsp;will feature a range of literary highlights, such as reviews, poetry, fiction, interviews, and commentary. Subscribe on the iTunes, Google, or Spotify Podcasts, or whichever app you use to listen to your favourite podcasts.