A Poetry Conversation Makes Room for More Than One Voice

A new episode of The New Yorker’s Poetry Podcast, published October 28, pairs Meghan O’Rourke reading Max Ritvo’s “Poem to My Litter” with her own poem, “Sectioned.” The episode page describes a reading and discussion with host Kevin Young; I’m drawing on that description, not claiming to have listened to it. (Listen and read the episode details)

That pairing offers a small invitation for readers: notice what changes when two poems meet—not to uncover one correct meaning, but to see what each voice makes newly noticeable. A comparison can open a door without deciding what lies beyond it.

When you read poems side by side, what helps you stay curious about their differences without turning them into a single story?