Open Your Hands: Conversations on Craft & Vision in Poetry

by Zach Czaia

Join poet and teacher Zach Czaia in this call and response conversation on poetry. Every month, Zach will select a poem from a contemporary living poet to read aloud and celebrate. The second episode of the month will be a dialogue between Zach and the author of that poem. First season's 10th and final episode (Mark Jarman, "Question for Ecclesiastes") dropped February 1, 2023. Zach will be back in fall, 2023 with a new seaso ...   ...  Read more

Podcast episodes

  • Season 1

  • Mark Jarman, "Questions for Ecclesiastes"

    Mark Jarman, "Questions for Ecclesiastes"

    I read Mark Jarman's poem, "Questions for Ecclesiastes," published in his collection Bone Fires (2011), with permission of Sarabande Books, Inc.

  • Zach Czaia, "Psalm 139 Remixed" (For Dasha)

    Zach Czaia, "Psalm 139 Remixed" (For Dasha)

    I read my new poem, "Psalm 139 Remixed" for our beloved dog, Dasha, who passed away this past December.

  • Zach Czaia, "To the Young Priest at the Church in Duluth Who Spoke With Such Certainty on the Meaning of Baptism"

    Zach Czaia, "To the Young Priest at the Church in Duluth Who Spoke With Such Certainty on the Meaning of Baptism"

    I read my own poem, "To the Young Priest at the Church in Duluth Who Spoke With Such Certainty on the Meaning of Baptism," recently published in the 2022 Winter issue.

  • Katrina Vandenberg, "Suppose"

    Katrina Vandenberg, "Suppose"

    I read and dialogue with Katrina Vandenberg's poem, "Suppose," first published in Katrina's collection, Atlas, with Milkweed Editions in 2004. To see the text of the poem and hear Katrina read it herself, see the link here.

  • Conversation with the Poet: Rodrigo Sanchez Chavarria

    Conversation with the Poet: Rodrigo Sanchez Chavarria

    Zach and Rodrigo discuss the genesis of the poem, "Icarus," as well as Rodrigo's experiences with coaching, mentorship, and his own work with the Palabristas.