Last week, as I edited one of the final audio recordings of the current issue of TMR, I remembered why I love audio so much. Usually, I contact the vocal talent, I’m at the recording session, or I’m editing some portion of the piece myself. When I was out of town in December, one of our interns, Jackie, had done the entire production for “The Way I Saw the World Then” by Elise Juska, which was read by Meg Philips, and I got to enjoy listening from start to finish.
This is why I love audio, why audio recordings of literature matter: it’s about storytelling. I love having stories read to me, where it’s just me and the voice of the reader, as if we were sitting together in a corner, away from the rest of the world and its worries.
My world, like yours I’m sure, has lots of worries. So, as a small remedy, I offer one of my favorite recordings–Brian Swann’s poetry feature from 32.3, our recent issue on Demons.
I agree… poetry must be spoken to be understood. A poem’s content is too condensed to be understood solely by reading. You have to look at it from different angles; the way the words sound and look together; and the imagery that the author presents through connotation.
I enjoyed this poem.