Best Windhover Podcasts (2025)

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Sic Transit Gloria Mundi: Accept this "Bonnie Doon" 7:23

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2h ago7:23

7:23

Today, Erika Kyba reads through the end of "Sic Transit Gloria Mundi," by Emily Dickinson. We begin to tie together the themes of moral bankruptcy, surface versus substance, and modernity, served with a slice of devilry.By Erika Kyba

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Sic Transit Gloria Mundi: Insolvency, Sublime! 4:31

15m ago4:31

4:31

Today, Erika Kyba reads "Sic Transit Gloria Mundi," by Emily Dickinson, a witty societal critique dashed with a commentary how certain astronomical discoveries have altered the way we understand and behave towards the universe around us.By Erika Kyba

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The Abyss: Above, Below, On Every Side 4:31

7d ago4:31

4:31

Today, Erika Kyba reads "The Abyss," by Baudelaire, and attempts to explore the poet's terror of the infinite.By Erika Kyba

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The Benefactors: The Pinch of Pain and Fear 4:20

14d ago4:20

4:20

Today, Erika Kyba reads "The Benefactors" by Rudyard Kipling. Kipling mediates on how all innovation springs from the "pinch of pain and fear" that drives man.By Erika Kyba

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Adam's Curse: As Weary-Hearted as that Hollow Moon 4:31

22d ago4:31

4:31

Today, Erika Kyba reads "Adam's Curse" by William Butler Yeats. Yeats muses on how all beautiful and lovely things require labor...and how this laboring after the beautiful has become an "idle trade" in the hollow age of modernity.By Erika Kyba

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The Boston Evening Transcript: Who Are You, When Evening Falls? 4:31

29d ago4:31

4:31

Today, Erika Kyba reads "The Boston Evening Transcript," by T. S. Eliot. Much in the same vein as Henry David Thoreau, Eliot mediates on our constant obsession with the news, and what that does to the human person.By Erika Kyba

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Safe in Their Alabaster Chambers: A Meditation on Legacy 4:32

1M ago4:32

4:32

Today, Erika Kyba reads "Safe in Their Alabaster Chambers," by Emily Dickinson. In this poem, Dickinson plays with the image of a tomb acting as a lamp, and she meditates on legacy, death, and history.By Erika Kyba

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As Kingfishers Catch Fire: Lovely in Eyes not His 4:31

1M ago4:31

4:31

Today, Erika Kyba reads "As Kingfishers Catch Fire," by Gerard Manley Hopkins. In this poem, Hopkins explores the natural image of kingfishers and dragonflies reflecting the sun's light, and he uses it to portray how God's glory shines forth in every single person, with all their particularities.By Erika Kyba

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On Time: The Temporal and the Eternal 4:31

2M ago4:31

4:31

Today, Erika Kyba reads John Milton's "On Time." This is a poem that echoes the themes John Donne's "Holy Sonnet X," asserting the triumph of believers over death and temporal decay.By Erika Kyba

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Demain dès l'aube: Facing the Unspeakable 4:30

2M ago4:30

4:30

Today, Erika Kyba reads Victor Hugo's "Demain dès l'aube," a poem about a man who has delayed facing his grief for far too long.By Erika Kyba

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America: Perennial With the Earth 4:35

2M ago4:35

4:35

Today, Erika Kyba reads Walt Whitman's "America," a distillation of the patriotic spirit that infuses much of Whitman's poetic corpus.By Erika Kyba

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Break, Break, Break: When Tragedy Paralyzes 4:18

2M ago4:18

4:18

Today, Erika Kyba reads Tennyson's "Break, Break, Break," an intimate portrait of loss and grief. The poem conveys the deadening effect of great sorrow, as the poet observes life going on for others while remaining paralyzed by tragedy.By Erika Kyba

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The Ballad of Blasphemous Bill: The Dark Twist 4:35

3M ago4:35

4:35

Today, Erika Kyba reads the eerie conclusion of Robert W. Service's "The Ballad of Blasphemous Bill," and proposes some possible interpretations to its mysterious ending.By Erika Kyba

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The Ballad of Blasphemous Bill: The Grateful Dead 4:30

3M ago4:30

4:30

Today, Erika Kyba reads an excerpt from Robert W. Service's "The Ballad of Blasphemous Bill," a poet's take on the Grateful Dead archetype.By Erika Kyba

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Aunt Helen: A Damning Silence 4:19

3M ago4:19

4:19

Today, Erika Kyba reads T. S. Eliot's "Aunt Helen," a dark meditation on the futility of earthly affairs, and the danger of leaving behind an empty legacy.By Erika Kyba

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Holy Sonnet X: Death be not Proud 4:32

5M ago4:32

4:32

Today, Erika Kyba reads John Donne's glorious vaunt against death itself: Holy Sonnet X.By Erika Kyba

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At a Solemn Music: Milton vs the Puritans 4:33

5M ago4:33

4:33

Today, Erika Kyba reads John Milton's "At a Solemn Music," which subtly engages with Puritan arguments portraying music as evil. Instead, Milton extols song as something that has the power to sanctify.By Erika Kyba

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Down by the Salley Gardens: The One that Got Away 4:34

5M ago4:34

4:34

Today, Erika Kyba reads W. B. Yeats's "Down by the Salley Gardens," a wistful meditation on lost love and innocence.By Erika Kyba

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The Good-Morrow: Love so Alike 4:14

5M ago4:14

4:14

Today, Erika Kyba reads John Donne's "The Good-Morrow," which meditates on the unity of lovers, as well as the virtues needed for romantic love to endure.By Erika Kyba

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An Inner Happiness is Absolutely of my World: A Door to the Soul 4:33

5M ago4:33

4:33

Today, Erika Kyba reads Salvador Espriu's "An Inner Happiness is Absolutely of my World," a self-reflective meditation on poetry as a door to the soul of the poet.By Erika Kyba

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Holy Sonnet XII: A Greater Wonder 4:36

6M ago4:36

4:36

Today, Erika Kyba reads John Donne's Holy Sonnet XII, which offers a frame for looking at nature with new eyes.By Erika Kyba

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Ode to the West Wind: Beyond the Grave 4:24

6M ago4:24

4:24

Today, Erika Kyba reads the conclusion of Percy Shelley's Ode to the West Wind. We see the poet recognize his mortality and surrender himself and his work to the autumnal spirit. However, he hopes that the wind's destruction will ultimately bring renewal.By Erika Kyba

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Ode to the West Wind: Destruction and Renewal 4:20

6M ago4:20

4:20

Today, Erika Kyba reads an excerpt from Percy Shelley's Ode to the West Wind, which celebrates the destructive spirit of the West Wind as a harbinger of renewal.By Erika Kyba

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Holy Sonnet IX: A Heavenly, Lethean Flood 4:34

7M ago4:34

4:34

Today, Erika Kyba reads John Donne's Holy Sonnet IX, in which the poet wrestles with the themes of sin, guilt, and forgiveness.By Erika Kyba

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Love (III): When Love Bids You Welcome 4:33

7M ago4:33

4:33

Today, Erika Kyba reads Love (III), the conclusion of George Herbert's Love series. This poem portrays the beautiful way in which Love crosses over the boundaries of guilt and sin to reach the human soul.By Erika Kyba

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The Sacrifice: "Was Ever Grief Like Mine?" 4:32

7M ago4:32

4:32

Today, Erika Kyba reads an excerpt from George Herbert's The Sacrifice, a beautiful meditation on the Passion.By Erika Kyba

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Love (II): Such True Desires 4:34

7M ago4:34

4:34

Today, Erika Kyba reads George Herbert's Love (II), in which the poet turns to correct the problems of disordered love that he raised in Love (I).By Erika Kyba

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Love (I): Thou Standing By 4:33

8M ago4:33

4:33

Today, Erika Kyba reads George Herbert's Love (I). Join her to unpack his beautiful ode to a forgotten Creator.By Erika Kyba

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Little Brother: The Wrath to Come 4:32

8M ago4:32

4:32

Today, Erika Kyba reads Robert W. Service's darkly enthralling "Little Brother." Together, we explore the truth of the poet's bleak vision, as well as looking for avenues of hope.By Erika Kyba

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The Hollow Men: This is the Dead Land 4:28

8M ago4:28

4:28

Today, Erika Kyba reads the conclusion of T. S. Eliot's "The Hollow Men." Eliot continues to paint a picture of the dark, deathly kingdom that the hollow men find themselves in, entrenched in the shadow of World War I.By Erika Kyba

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Beggar to Beggar Cried: Driven by the Itch 4:26

8M ago4:26

4:26

Today, we explore "Beggar to Beggar Cried," by the Irish poet, William Butler Yeats. This is a poem about the desire for peace and security, juxtaposed with a restlessness of spirit.By Erika Kyba

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The Hollow Men: When Life and Death Mean Nothing 4:22

9M ago4:22

4:22

Today, I am joined by Alexandra Comus to read an excerpt from "The Hollow Men," by T. S. Eliot. This is a poem that warns about the consequences of living without meaning, as the shadow of death continually hangs over the world.By Erika Kyba

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The Nativity Ode: When Wisest Fate Says No 4:34

9M ago4:34

4:34

Today, we continue exploring Milton's "On the Morning of Christ's Nativity." In this excerpt, we see that the joy of the Nativity sparks a longing and a hope for an Edenic golden age. However, the poet reminds us that all things must be harrowed before they can be remade.By Erika Kyba

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The Nativity Ode: Such Music Sweet 4:35

9M ago4:35

4:35

Today, we continue exploring Milton's "On the Morning of Christ's Nativity." In this excerpt, we witness Creation move from hushed awe to jubilant songs of praise.By Erika Kyba

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The Nativity Ode: With Wonder Whist 4:01

9M ago4:01

4:01

Today, we continue exploring Milton's "On the Morning of Christ's Nativity." In this excerpt, Milton meditates on the cosmic awe that the Christ child's surpassing power inspires.By Erika Kyba

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The Nativity Ode: When Light Comes to Darkness 4:35

10M ago4:35

4:35

Today, we explore Milton's "On the Morning of Christ's Nativity," which ponders the cosmic effects of Christ's coming into the world.By Erika Kyba

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The Windhover: A Christological Kestrel 4:25

10M ago4:25

4:25

Today, we explore Hopkins's "The Windhover," a meditation on the flight of a kestrel. Hopkins opens our eyes to the wonder of a natural world that is richly layered with meaning.By Erika Kyba

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The World is Too Much With Us: Bethink Your Creed 4:36

10M ago4:36

4:36

"Creed" is a concept that's often neglected in our day and age, as many nonreligious thinkers consider the idea of creed archaic or limiting. However, everyone has one; your creed is the set of principles that governs your life, whether you recognize it or not. Wordsworth's "The World is Too Much With Us" indicts his generation's creed of materiali…

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Guigemar: The Confession 4:34

12M ago4:34

4:34

This final installment of Guigemar that we will read portrays Guigemar and his lady as they finally come to terms with their love for one another, and as Guigemar is sped on to declare his love for her.By Erika Kyba

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Guigemar: Cupid's Ambush 4:14

12M ago4:14

4:14

In this installment of Guigemar, the incandescent, fierce flame of desire begins to consume Guigemar and his lady.By Erika Kyba

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Guigemar: The Hospitality 4:32

1y ago4:32

4:32

This installment of Guigemar portrays the lady's reply to the wounded knight and illuminates aspects of her character, such as her hospitality and virtue. However, the lady is not without her discontents, as she reveals to Guigemar.By Erika Kyba

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Guigemar: The Encounter 4:33

1y ago4:33

4:33

This installment of Guigemar portrays the first encounter between Guigemar and the imprisoned young lady. The poet brings some interesting elements to the forefront in their encounter, including the focus on his heartbeat and his dependence on the lady's hospitality.By Erika Kyba

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Guigemar: The Caged Lady 4:46

1y ago4:46

4:46

This installment of Guigemar introduces some important new characters into the story. Most important of these is a young lady, imprisoned by her jealous and much older husband. A portrait of Venus hanging in the young lady's chamber contains some clues as to what the poet intends to do with her character.…

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Guigemar: The Voyage 4:36

1y ago4:36

4:36

This installment of Guigemar takes our protagonist to a magical ship that sets sail without any prompting of his. Guigemar falls fast asleep in a room that bears strong associations to King Solomon and is likely meant to evoke the Song of Songs. This may or may not foreshadow what Guigemar will find upon waking up.…

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Guigemar: The Curse 4:37

1y ago4:37

4:37

This installment of Guigemar portrays our protagonist's fateful hunt of a white hind with a stag's antlers. Considering the supernatural legends associated with the white stag, you might think that Guigemar would take heed of the creature. The question is...will he?By Erika Kyba

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Guigemar: The Hunt 4:31

1y ago4:31

4:31

Today, we read an opening excerpt from Marie de France's Guigemar, a medieval tale of curses, courtly intrigue, and forbidden love. We examine the poet's characterization of the knight, Guigemar, and how his lack of tenderness foreshadows the dramatic events to follow.By Erika Kyba

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The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock: Do I Dare to Eat a Peach? 4:31

1y ago4:31

4:31

Today, we finish out "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," watching the final analysis of our narrator's life play out. The narrator asks himself a seemingly bizarre yet poignant question: Do I dare to eat a peach? The way we choose to answer that question for ourselves might be more impactful than you would think at first glance.…

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The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock: The Perils of Communication 4:30

1y ago4:30

4:30

This installment of T. S. Eliot's "Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" shows our narrator justifying his decision not to pursue his beloved by pointing out the perils of relationships and frustrated communication. Instead of confronting the problem, Prufrock chooses cynicism and avoidance...perhaps a choice we have all made at one point or another.…

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The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock: When Death Itself Mocks Us 4:26

1y ago4:26

4:26

This installment of T. S. Eliot's "Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" begins to unravel the dark consequences of our narrator's failure to courageously pursue that which he loves most.By Erika Kyba

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The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock: How Should I Presume? 4:32

1y ago4:32

4:32

This installment of T. S. Eliot's "Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" reintroduces our narrator's fruitless longing for romance, as he is paralyzed by beauty rather than inspired by it.By Erika Kyba