Letters to a Young Woman Poet

Poet Daljit Nagra revisits the BBC's poetry archive and selects Letters to a Young Woman Poet featuring Gillian Clarke, Penelope Shuttle and Grace Nichols who share insights into their creativity.

**And Daljit reads from his Poetry Extra Book of the Month: Night Boat & other poems by Maria Barnas.

'Ask yourself, in the still of your night, must I write?'

In ‘Letters to a Young Woman Poet’ - three of our most celebrated poets explore the deep pleasure of writing, the poetry of menstruation, sensuality and motherhood, and offer advice to younger writers.

The programme includes the creative insights of the Bohemian poet Rainer Maria Rilke – who began the iconic correspondence known as ‘Letters to a Young Poet’ more than 120 years ago.

Quotations from 'Letters to a Young Poet' trans. M.D.Herter Norton

Poems read in full:
‘Confirmation’ - Grace Nichols
‘Ashes, Blood ‘- Penelope Shuttle
‘Sheila Na Gig at Kilpeck’ – Gillian Clarke
‘Invitation’ – Grace Nichols
‘Mother and Child’ - Penelope Shuttle
‘Times Like These’ - Gillian Clarke
‘Moon Mothers’ - Grace Nichols

Produced by Faith Lawrence

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2022.