Wacky Poem Life

Episode 169: Boy Poet from Corn

Episode 169: The Boy Poet from Corn reveals a Grand Prize Co-Winner in the Oklahoma Poem Contest. Third Grader and Corn OK resident Luke Thiessen wrote a prize-winning poem about Oklahoma's state reptile the Eastern Collared Lizard. And that poem inspired another . . . and others. We also discuss how poetry changes the world. Luke knows this. You must listen.

Episode 168: Spring Pez, Pickles & Poetry

Episode 168: Spring Pez, Pickles & Poetry provides you with lovely spring poems and lowly spring items from the dollar store, plus a  Spring "Scented Fun Dough" challenge that Bill, of course, wins. Here's your 30ish minutes of fun and poetry for the month.

Episode 167: Homo-Hetero-Homo-Hetero

Episode 167: Homo-Hetero-Homo-Hetero is not what you think. We discuss a poem by Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa and discuss his heteronyms, which then led us into a discussion of homonyms, homographs, and other homos. Then, we were joined by one of the winners of the Rhyming & ROMPing on Route 66 poetry contest, Linda Rosenthal, who came in with her husband as they were traveling from Texas to their home in Michigan. It's a potpourri of poetic juice. You are welcome.

Episode 166: Whip Me with a Goat Hide

Episode 166: Whip Me with a Goat’s Hide. We don’t mean to be blunt, but Valentine’s Day had some bloody and violent origins. Don’t blame us. It’s those pesky Romans. Anyway, join Shaun and Bill for some non-bloody discussions of Victorian valentines and contemporary ones written on the cuff. Celebrate this violent holiday in true style. Have a listen!

Episode 165: Pinnacle of Tack

Episode 165: The Pinnacle of Tack takes you back to Route 66 fodder–prize-winning poems in the Rhyming & ROMPing on Route 66 poetry contest, and a potpourri of off-topic subjects, like only Shaun & Bill can do!

Bonus Episode: Maiden Voyage

This Maiden Voyage is a reissue of our very first episode from 2021 where we talked about dog farts and poetry. Enjoy.

Episode 164: Haiku Tonic

Episode 164: Haiku Tonic delivers some thoughts and feelings about one of our most popular poetic forms--the haiku. Writing a haiku can be a tonic for the heart and soul. Take the Haiku Tonic challenge!

Episode 163: Repeat After Me

Episode 163: Repeat After Me begins with a 7-year-old's poem that makes great use of repetition, one of the finest tools of the poet. Then, we diverge into conversations about what a poem is, why cats multiply, the myth of ownership, and various other themes. In other words, typical Wacky with Bill and Shaun!

Burma Shave Roadside Bait

Episode 162: Burma Shave Roadside Bait is a light episode of little ditties from back in the day and today, as we celebrate the roadside sign verse from the Burma Shave company. In the Rural Oklahoma Museum of Poetry's upcoming exhibit Rhyming and ROMPing on Route 66, we will have a feature on these unique and quirky verses and a way to interact and create your own. 

Episode 161: Heifers Get Into Everything

Episode 161: Heifers Get Into Everything may not seem to have anything to do with the poem inspiring this episode, but that is just the way with life, isn’t it? You never know how one trail leads onto another. Listen and find out, or just listen because you need some entertainment.