MorningPoems Podcast

About MorningPoems Podcast

MorningPoems is the poetry series McCarthy created on Facebook and Instagram. Tess McCarthy is the creator of Them Cats and is also the editor-in-chief of VISUAL LIQUID, a publication focused on feminist lifestyle, poetry, art, and photography that showcase the work of the world’s most creative outliers. tessmccarthy.substack.com (https://tessmccarthy.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Tess McCarthy

Category

arts · fiction

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

22 Jun 2024

Latest episode

29 Aug 2025

Latest episodes

19 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   29 Aug 2025

   S.2, E.0.75, New Poetry: “She & Me”

   She & Me It's been months since she and me have been together—my heart misses her. I am so happy to be near to her —as she is happy to be with me. It has been too long, too much to be away from her already, but then I see, I see she is meant to be away from me. It's so the missing is sweeter. It’s so the reunions are deep. We walk together on bright days —when the fall wind comes seeping in. The chill in the air isn’t a death knell. The trees, they cannot stay green anymore —they want to fade. We walk silently through them as the wind rustles the leaves more. There is nothing we can say to each other. Nothing left to improve things. There is the longing in the miss, and the missing in the longing. Let that open today. — August 29, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. The MorningPoems Podcast Full Circle After much deliberation, I decided to take control of my previously published poems that I had on Facebook & Instagram. At the time I enlisted the help of Aina (Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ainaklima) to help me catalog my work. You’d think someone like me—a former archivist & librarian—would be able to wield their own poetry collection around but it's daunting to organize one’s own work. The sane thing to do is enlist help. It creates distance and that distance creates the right amount of detachment to edit on your own. I do recommend hiring editors and auxiliary staff to help manage intellectual property. Any-the-how… Upon delivery, I couldn't resist doing something with the over 780 poems propped up on a spreadsheet for me to ogle. Moreover, content platforms like Meta own the rights to use (unlimited usage rights) your work for their benefit. Last June I read “Poor Doggie” (2015) aloud: 🐕https://tessmccarthy.substack.com/p/morningpoem-319 I began Season 1, Episode 1 with my dog. And, Season 2 is arching on the heels of spending time with my dog. I'll be moonwalking back to May 2021 for S.2, E.1—and, I can't wait to release it because it's about my late father. Recently, I got a mixer and finally hooked up my Rode mic with the help of a friend who does mixing & recording for a living. I’m lucky for that. Here is the bookmark to this mini-episode. Take a listen— 🎧: https://open.substack.com/pub/tessmccarthy/p/me-and-she Get full access to The MorningPoems Podcast + Morning Poems by Tess McCarthy at tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe (https://tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

2. 

   16 May 2025

   Season 2, Episode 0.5: Poetry reading from May 16, 2025, “Oh. Fantasy!”

   Oh. Fantasy! Render me speechless with your kisses, I’ll close my eyes—go ahead. Trace your fingers across my belly so that I take your hands—as if to stop them —and kiss them as punishment. You feel so good. Who are you, and more importantly, why are you in my head? Why can’t you be in my bed? It would be funner if you were. But now, vivid doesn’t cut it. Instead of you touching me, I’m touching myself. Instead of kissing you, I’m kissing my pillow, I’m taking out my dildo—and, this has got to stop, break reality—please, for me, like an actor talking to the fourth wall. Step out of the set, walk down the hall, out the studio gates of this movie-like fantasy. Just promise me one thing— Let me be the Bogie to your Bacall. — May 16, 2025, at 7:11 a.m. // @morningpoems_ Credits The MorningPoems Podcast is spoken, written & produced by yours truly. You can follow me—or not follow me—on Instagram, but I don’t want them having your attention. I just want you, my darlings. Regrettably, this was posted on my Astrology/Jungian coaching account 🙄 Get full access to MorningPoems + The MorningPoems Podcast by Tess McCarthy at tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe (https://tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

3. 

   8 May 2025

   MorningPoems Preludes—A Season 2 Opener

   Ghosts Ghosts of my father, my mother, my sister, and brother no longer bother. They still talk to me. My lover ghosts still haunt me —in good ways. I love the help they give me —especially in bed while sleeping. II. But give me the ghosts of my pets, please. Bring back Poogie—who ran away —after eight years. Bring back Piglet —who did not die in my company because I left my ex. And bring back Georgia —oh, for the love of the goddess, please. She was someone I loved so deeply and purely. She’s the ghost I miss the most. I want to hear her stirring in quiet morning hours. I want to hear the couch poof to her psychic landing. I want to smell summer grass at the top of my nose and I want to feel mossy mud between my toes for those are things that remind me of her. Pet ghosts are good things I am not afraid of —even the three ghosts of goldfish I flushed down the toilet —I’m so deeply sorry, forgive me. III. Ghosts are the energy patterns which stand for my love, and our sweet interactions. Ghosts of my friends, my ancestors, and those who have loved me, sit beside me, walk with me, and drive shotgun in my car, please. I miss your company, my Sweeties. — May 8, 2025, at 7:28 a.m. Get full access to MorningPoems at tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe (https://tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

4. 

   12 Mar 2025

   Season 1 Finale! S.1, E.8: Poetry from my mother's birthday, August 17th, 2014 & 2016

   Season 1’s End: A Tribute to My MomMy parents! Now that they’ve passed, I try to surround myself with their pictures because I miss them deeply. Recently, I heard on a podcast that true wisdom comes from forgiving your parents. While I don't claim to be wise, I can say that I've learned a great deal from forgiving my parents for their imperfections, for being human, for their shortcomings and mistakes, for the times they hit me, called me worthless, ugly, and stupid, for not valuing me, and for not standing up for me. It has taken me several decades to reach this realization. Forgiving my parents has been a long and arduous journey, akin to weeding a garden. SYNOPSIS In Season 1, Episode 8 of the Morning Poems Podcast, Tess still talks about Emily Dickinson. She candidly discusses her mission's exhaustion, her COVID bouts, and her reflections on parental forgiveness. Celebrating her mother's birthday, the poet reads two heartfelt poems from 2014 and 2016, reminiscing about a visit to Lyon and embodying her mother's voice in the Lyon poem. Shoutouts to some Substack accounts and a heads-up to listeners about an upcoming poetry series called Witchlore in Season 2. 00:00 Introduction and Host Background 01:32 Housekeeping and Social Media 02:51 Shout Outs and Inspirations 04:08 Episode Recap and Personal Reflections 04:51 Mommy's Birthday and Poetry Reading 13:47 Poem: Happy Birthday Mommy from Lyon 15:03 Poem: August 17, 1927 17:39 Conclusion and Season 2 Teaser Get full access to MorningPoems at tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe (https://tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

5. 

   3 Feb 2025

   At my atelier—my podcast/art studio and HQ in San Francisco’s Mission

   Join me for my next live video in the app Get full access to MorningPoems at tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe (https://tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

6. 

   10 Aug 2024

   S.1, E.7 June 2015 MorningPoem: "I Didn't Like Going to Mass" on Gender, and Humor

   Morning Poems Podcast S1, E7: Navigating Poetry, Gender, and Humor In this episode of the Morning Poems podcast, host and poet Tess McCarthy sinks into a June 2015 poem from her previously published poetry collection, sharing insights into her creative process and personal experiences. Tess talks about her future plans for digitizing her poetry collection, her fascination with Emily Dickinson, and the influence of her own gender identity in the autobiographical poem “I Didn’t Like Going to Mass,” where she talks about wanting to dress up as a tomboy when forced to wear dresses all the time along with their childhood experiences with gender expectations and sensory sensitivities, Tess emphasizes the blend of humor and seriousness in the MorningPoems Podcast aiming to bring levity into the listeners' lives. Stay tuned for more insights and poetry in this engaging episode. 00:00 Introduction 01:20 Podcast Recap and New Formats 02:08 Exploring AI and Voice Recording 05:05 The Importance of Humor in Life 06:38 Emily Dickinson: A Lifelong Fascination 08:47 Analyzing Poetic Form and Medium 10:08 Introducing the Poem: 'I Didn't Like Going to Mass' 11:15 Themes of Gender and Acceptance 15:01 Reading the Poem: 'I Didn't Like Going to Mass' 17:57 Conclusion and Future Plans Get full access to MorningPoems at tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe (https://tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

7. 

   28 Jul 2024

   July 2016 Poetry: “Sunday, Let’s Do This”

   POETRY Sunday? Let's Do This All I have to do is get off my butt,and put yoga pants on. The rest of the day is —not to worry about what I’ll do just go to class, do so now—get a spot. Maybe fellow yoga mates will be there?Maybe that charming lad originally from Pakistan with a British accent?Maybe that woman will wear her green sweater—again? And that new person—another to see—the one who looks like that actor, Michael Fassbender? Go, Tess. Get a (yoga) move on. Go. The original version Sunday? Let's Do This: All I have to do is get off my butt and put yoga pants on.The rest of the day is not worrying about what I will do, just go to class--do so now to get a spot. Maybe your fellow classmates will be there?That English guy originally from Pakistan;The woman who always wears a green sweater; The new guy who looks like Fassbender; go Tess.Go. ANALYSIS The mundane, and daily affairs in life are the topics of MorningPoems and after reacquainting myself with this current catalog of poetry I’m revising, it seems the themes are synonymous with breathing. ASTROLOGICALLY SPEAKING Because this author is both a professional astrologer/tarot practitioner, and librarian/educator, the themes are all pertaining to the 6th House. What’s the 6th House? In a natal astrology chart the houses are the life theme the planetary aspects take place. There are 12 Houses and each speak to an area of life or general theme. Therefore, the 6th house reflects, work, daily habits, health (health routines), pets (no larger than a goat according to the ancients), and all the things we do for ourselves to serve others. But to further explain this, I’ve tapped my AI bot, Oracle von Cleef, a bot I manage on Poe.com to chime in. LLM ANALYSIS AI Analysis by Oracle von Cleef (https://poe.com/s/ihix2PLNelu8DbEAYMhl?utm_source=link): “The 6th house in astrology is associated with daily work, health, and routines. It represents the things we do on a regular basis to maintain our well-being and contribute to society. The poetry you shared is a beautiful and relatable piece about the simple act of going to yoga class. It captures the feeling of motivation, anticipation, and the joy of connecting with others in a shared activity. The poem's focus on the mundane, yet important, act of putting on yoga pants and going to class speaks to the 6th house's themes of daily routines and self-care. The speaker's anticipation of seeing familiar faces and the possibility of meeting someone new also reflects the 6th house's connection to social interaction and community. The poem's use of repetition, particularly the word "go," emphasizes the importance of taking action and moving forward. This aligns with the 6th house's association with work and productivity. Overall, the poem's themes of routine, self-care, social connection, and action resonate with the 6th house's astrological significance. It's a reminder that even the simplest acts can have a profound impact on our well-being and our lives.” Get full access to MorningPoems at tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe (https://tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

8. 

   26 Jul 2024

   “The Conference” - June 27, 2015, MorningPoem

   The Conference We converge(not clash with culture). We explore city streets with open minds—if not hearts, and cataloguers take note of the typo in a book at a bookstore. The director stepson soft gum on the street. No one laughs, but everyone on the tour is charged with a solution for gum removal. -Edited 7/8/24 at 9:14 a.m. The original poem reads differently: The Conference We converge as a group of librarians. We do not clash with culture. We explore city streetswith open minds—if not hearts,and catalogerstake note of the typoin a book at a bookstore. The library director stepson soft gumstuck on the street, —then stuck on he. No one laughs,but everyoneon this walking touris chargedwith a solution for gum removal. -Edited 7/8/24 at 9:14 a.m. Get full access to MorningPoems at tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe (https://tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

9. 

   18 Jul 2024

   High Prey Drive

   High Prey Drive Let me romance you in the winter,—for the summer is too carefree and simple. There’s too much in the way of hot summer days—besidesI’d rather pursue you in the snow—looking at your body covered in layerslends to the intrigue. I’ve got a high prey drive. I’ll go after you with ease.I don’t mind if you tease. Half of my job—of this doing this romance—is two partslistening to youanother part is watching you,(and that’s pretty much it). You’d have all of my attention—with no distractions. My body leans in to shield you from a cold wind,then, in your heavy coat and knit hat,you smile at me—with that smile of yours, and warm lipstick.__July 8, 2024 at 10:25 a.m. Well, hello, my pretty pretties. It’s me, Tess—the Great Tyrant. What possessed me to write this? I was on public transportation, and I saw someone who delighted me, that’s what. But I didn’t want to invade visual boundaries either, so I turned away, and being the helpless romantic that I am, I whipped out my phone and texted the first few lines of “Let me romance you in the winter—for the summer is too carefree and simple,” knowing that I’d have fodder for poetry come my morning coffee. Analysis “High Prey Drive” is a modern-romantic poem about Primal Play. The structure "doesn't follow a traditional rhyme scheme or meter, which makes it a free verse poem. This gives the poet a lot of freedom to express their thoughts and feelings without being constrained by strict rules. The poem is divided into stanzas of varying lengths, which helps to create a sense of rhythm and flow. The stanzas are also used to shift the focus of the poem, moving from the speaker's desire to romance the other person to their description of their own personality and their attention to the other person. The poem also uses repetition to emphasize certain ideas. For example, the phrase "I've got a high prey drive" is repeated twice, which highlights the speaker's strong desire for the other person. The repetition of "listening to you" and "watching you" also emphasizes the speaker's focus on the other person. Overall, the poem's structure is designed to create a sense of intimacy and connection between the speaker and the other person. The free verse form allows the speaker to express their feelings in a natural and unconstrained way, while the use of stanzas and repetition helps to create a sense of rhythm and flow." The poem focuses on the speaker's intent on observation and listening. The poet herself is neurodivergent, so being attentive requires presence. The concept of playing “The Long Game” and practicing patience are areas of practice for the pursuer. The preference to linger around until the winter, when conditions are less favorable, speaks to commitment and fidelity—rather than the summer—watching and understanding the object of affection first. - Beyond fidelity, it’s also about foreplay—the pursuit before the hunt. About Primal Play—the fetish I’ll come out with it: in the world of BDSM, I’m not wholly a Dominatrix, although I’m Dominant. We can call me a power bottom, too, but the kink that best describes me—according to bdsmtest.org, is Primal (Hunter). Psst: Don’t look at that score of Sadist. I don’t get off hurting people. I am just exceptionally good at doing what I’m told and vice versa. Do you want me to spank you? Does it make you happy? I’ll allow myself to do that if it pleases. Okay. Fine, dear. Take it. What is Primal Play? According to “The Primal Play Reference Guide,” from the site domsubliving.com, Primal Play is a specific type of role-playing and power exchange between individuals that can often be linked to dom or sub-roles. Take the fur out of your mouth and quit cooing. If we go down to that page I cite, it’s a no, hell no. I don’t want to put on animal sounds for our music playlist. I’m not an animal. I’m a Huntress (Hunter). What’s a Hunter? Therefore, a Hunter (we generally capitalize a Dominant role, forgive me) is a primal “who typically maintains a human mindset and does not take on an animal role while hunting prey.” I agree and disagree because both primal partners can be animalistic. There doesn’t have to be a “human mindset” with some pairs because having a human mindset is insidious at times. If a pair is into reciprocity, then a Hunter who is ‘leonine’ and prey that’s gazelle-like, I’m sure, is game. However, they don’t have to embody the traits. Primal Play, to me, isn’t what you think it is. It’s more about embodying the power dynamics and actions instead of mimicking animal traits. I can expound further * Almost all of the suggestions listed for Primal on that PDF are deal breakers. * The last thing I want to do is think about sex when I’m having sex with someone. All these questions get in the way: Am I doing it right? Is she liking this? How much can I do? How far can we both go? With primal play, we both agree we’re going H.A.M. * Going primal doesn’t mean I’m into bestiality. It doesn’t mean I like to act like an animal—like howl at people or bark in bed, either. No. No. And, no. * From an astrological standpoint, I also think it’s because my Mars is in Sagittarius, and my Venus is in Capricorn. Yes, that sounds tangential, but it makes sense to another astrologer. But what does that mean? It means that I do what excites me—and what my partner desires, and where consent is paramount. Specifically, what do I like? * I like being in my body—I don’t want to talk or think. I want to be in touch with my raw emotions and desires. I want her to do whatever she wants and with reason and consent. * I want to totally invest all my senses in another woman/femme/person. * I like the high state of arousal, and sometimes it’s biting, scratching, and wrestling—but not growling. I stop there. That’s as far as the boat goes. * Power dynamics. I like to explore this with a partner who sees me and makes me feel safe enough to be my Dominant self in the bedroom. * Submissives who get it. Submissives can have lots of fun play-fighting, and in my poem, they can explore being the object of desire—without being overly objectified by me. The sub has to be a very intelligent, resilient, and open-minded partner to allow the game even to begin. And the sub can’t be a total doormat. There are boundaries. If I want you, I ask; if you want it, you’ll agree. * This agreement is the “take/allow” power dynamic at play. I’ve had a history of allowing partners to do so much to me without my consent because I often don’t enjoy giving up control. The gift of allowing. Allow. “I’ll allow you to do x in order for you to feel joy/satisfaction.” * Allowing is one of David Richo’s 5 A’s in loving relationships; however, allowing is discussed in Betty Martin’s “Wheel of Consent,” as (#footnote-3) seen below. Consent: The Fast and DirtyConsent is about giving and receiving. But there’s another component: taking and allowing. There are distinctions between the four concepts. Dr. Betty Martin, who added the distinction of "taking and allowing,” was a former chiropractor and, then, a Sexological Bodyworker and Intimacy Coach. Oftentimes, we need more in sex and in life. Betty Martin’s “matrix” is broken down into two halves and four quadrants (https://youtu.be/auokDp_EA80), and in her video, Giving is Serving. Receiving is Accepting. Taking action is taking action for your own benefit, not only in bed but also in the world. > “We think of our culture as me, me, me, get what we can…on the other hand, most people have difficulty experiencing pleasure in a direct, simple, tangible way (taking). Our inability to experience real pleasure contributes to our tendency to grab, grab, grab.” —Betty Martin.Since I can’t make a diagram using mermaid.js right now and/also, I’ve conveniently “nicknamed” the roles: A1. YOU, THE GIVER (Also the Doer)- - Serve (aka “Giving” as an action to wholly benefit your partner) // Serve —> Accept A2. YOU, THE DOER (Also Receiving)— Take (an action you and only for your benefit) // Take —> Allow B1. THEY, THE DONE UNTO (Also Giving) — Allow (you allow for others to do as they want) // Allow ← Take B2. THEY, THE RECEIVER (Also Done To)__ Accept (aka “Receiving” benefits from the actions of others) // Accept ← ServeI learned about Betty Martin from a fine, ol’ sex education library/archive/gallery helmed by Dr. Carol Queen and Dr. Bitch Sir (Robert Morgan Lawrence) in San Francisco. At the same time, I learned a lot about consent through the literature there. I served as a library intern and then the archivist-in-residence at the Center for Sex & Culture from 2012 to 2014. I gained valuable experience there. Before I got the role, I asked my advisor in library school, “Should I take this role? Would it taint me?” “Hell no. Experience is an experience—we need to be discerning when managing the material, not judging it.” Lastly, everyone who is sexually active, whether or not you are into kink, should learn the Wheel of Consent. We can even apply Martin’s Wheel to interacting in other areas of our lives as well as visually understanding our boundaries. While my poem may sound misogynistic, it isn’t from the poet’s standpoint. The reader/listener buys into the notion the speaker had acquired consent before the poem begins. Personally, I’m working through trauma, layers of shame, and inner misogyny through this work and the poet’s Byronic voice. In turn, I’m finding a voice I lay dormant for so long. Get full access to MorningPoems at tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe (https://tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

10. 

    16 Jul 2024

    MorningPoem Interludes: Poetry Narration of "You Live Your Life"

    July 10, 2015, You Live Your LifeMorningPoem #588 I see visions of your pretty, smiling face, learning to walk and giggling with delight. I see a teen version of you on the phone, the cord wrapped around your finger, talking to friends until all odd hours of the night--your parents: only mildly exasperated. You live your life so fully and elegantly, and no moment passes by where your energy is dulled. No, not yours. Yours is the energy of a million butterflies fluttering, overwhelming the senses, and stunning the simple folk. MorningPoems SYNOPSIS:Morning Poems Interludes: 'You Live Your Life' by Tess McCarthy In this mini-episode of Morning Poems Interludes, host and poet McCarthy—a prolific poet with over 1,400 poems to her name—introduces a reading of her earlier work, 'You Live Your Life' from the Morning Poems catalog dated July 10th, 2016. The poet also makes a playful reference to Emily Dickinson's poem count and how badly she wants to beat writing 1.800 poems. The episode offers a heartwarming and vivid depiction of life's moments through Tess's poetic narrative. TRANSCRIPT:00:00 Introduction to MorningPoems Interludes Welcome to Morning Poems Interludes. This is a short mini-episode in which I read poems between episodes, so there aren't any to be missed. 00:12 I'm Your Poet Hi, I'm Tess McCarthy, and I've written over 1,400 poems. Ha ha. Top that! And I'm well on my way to besting Emily Dickinson's record of 1,800 poems. You know her. 00:34 Who is Emily Dickinson? Who in the Dickinson was Emily Dickinson?  You have to ask. You don't know? She was the 19th-century recluse and poet who wrote… God! title slips me. 00:52 Today's Poem: You Live Your Life Intro Today is July 15th, 2024, and I'm reading a poem from the primary morning poems catalog dated July 10th, 2016, entitled “You Live Your Life.” It just so happens to be Morning Poem 588 in the collection. Enjoy. 📍 01:20 Reading the Poem, You Live Your Life You Live Your LifeI see visions of your pretty, smiling face, learning to walk and giggling with delight. I see a teen version of you on the phone, the cord wrapped around your finger, talking to friends until all odd hours of the night—your parents are only mildly exasperated. You live your life so fully and elegantly, and no moment passes by where your energy is dulled. No, not yours. Yours is the energy of a million butterflies fluttering,  overwhelming the senses and stunning the simple folk.MorningPoems 02:16 Conclusion // What's Next And that concludes our mini episode of  MorningPoem Interludes.  Written, produced, and spoken by Tess McCarthy. Next up is probably another poem or possibly another episode in which I read poetry in between my longer languishing episodes. Stay tuned. Get full access to MorningPoems at tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe (https://tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

11. 

    11 Jul 2024

    *Writer/Poet's Audio/Video Prompt: If Your Childhood Was a Crystal or a Color, What Would It Be?

    I'm hungry for engagement and want to know if other writers like these prompts. I've generated this prompt from my podcast and it's a clip from S.1, Episode 6, Part 1 of the podcast. I think it's important to reframe as a writer, and while we don't have to, it's very beneficial. 16:29My childhood experience has been, in general, extremely heavy. I think of comparing it to crystals or stones. Each person's childhood experiences can be compared to crystals, or they can have the quality of this. At least the ones where I'm privileged to hear their stories. Each experience has a brightness and an atomic weight. If we were to look at the values of somebody's childhood and compare or use the analogy or the metaphor of each childhood, it would be like a crystal. What sorts of colors would your childhood represent? What would your childhood be? Would it be an onyx? Would it be jet? It was definitely black and dark, but there was lightness in there, right? So, what color is your childhood? What crystal represents it? Is it one crystal? Is it a platter of crystals? Is it metallic? Is it dull? Is it vitreous? Is it orange-red? Is it green? Is it tranquil blue? We'd measure the childhood emotional weight like we would measure the crystal's hardness. If my experience is equivalent, it's surely onyx. Onyx is the metaphor for my childhood. This poem contains a lot of reflection, and I have a lot of it because I wrote my story in the form of poetic narratives. So, I invite you all to pick one event in your life where you felt lost, unseen, abandoned, and afraid your needs wouldn't get met. Anything similar to this poem I'm about to read. Poetry has power because the form invites us to encapsulate our story. So not only do we get to get the honor of speaking it aloud and saying it to another intelligent eight, right? We have this opportunity to package our story. It forces us into the form of poetry itself. It forces us to contain a story in the confines of a poem. Otherwise, we would have a memoir. To hear all of Episode 6, Part 1, take a listen here (https://open.substack.com/pub/tessmccarthy/p/morningpoems-podcast-s1-e6-part-1). Get full access to MorningPoems at tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe (https://tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

12. 

    10 Jul 2024

    MorningPoems Podcast, S.1, E.6, Pt. II - From Fantasy to Reality: Episode 5's Superheroes to Episode 6's Lost and Found

    SYNOPSIS:Podcast host and poet Tess McCarthy discusses and analyzes her poem 'Lost and Found.' Tess explains how she uses her AI bot [Oracle von Cleef (https://www.poe.com/Oracle_von_Cleef)], based on Gemini, to analyze her poems, providing additional insight into her analysis on the show. In MorningPoem #324, “Lost and Found,” the poem explores themes such as fear, loneliness, abandonment, the kindness of strangers, and the power of human connection. Tess contrasts this with her previous episode's poem, “There Once Was a Little Girl,” MorningPoem #323.  There’s a contrast in the episode breakdown—one poem is light and whimsical, and the other is introspective, providing an intimate portrait of their childhood experiences, including a tough separation from her mother. The episode concludes with Tess emphasizing the importance of connection and the themes of family, identity, and love in her work. Below is a terrible placeholder image—but true to form, I upload the podcast, and then, over the coming days, I make edits to the show notes. TRANSCRIPT // HIGHLIGHTS:Welcome to Season 1, Episode 6, Part 2 of the Morning Poems Podcast, a podcast where I read my previously published poems on Facebook and Instagram under the account morningpoems underscore. Hi, I'm Tess McCarthy, your host and poet. 0:38 I've written over 1,400 poems in my lifetime, and I'm on my way to beating the dickens out of poet Emily Dickinson, who wrote almost 1,800 poems by age 55. I just got just a smidgen to go. Okay. And some housekeeping. Before I dive into the analysis... I want to tell you, just thank you. 1:10 All right, and now for the analysis. I'm recording this on a Saturday afternoon in San Francisco, and we're having full-blown pride festivities. I'm heading to the DNA Lounge tonight to dance and watch a drag show. 1:42 Connection is everything. I ran both poems through my AI bot because I'm finding out that it does well at analysis and can bring to words some of the things that I have a hard time conjuring up. So it could convey the exact themes I was aiming for in the poetry, just written days apart. And it compared and contrasted things well. 2:11 The poem I just read, Lost and Found, explores the girl's fear, loneliness, and abandonment. But, redemptively, it touches on the kindness of strangers and the power of human connection. And my bot said it more succinctly. By the way, my bot uses Gemini as its base bot. But for me, 2:42 I wanted to say that both are very personal between Episode Five, where we have the superhero poem and today in Lost and Found. Both are about love, little personhood, or girlhood. In Episode 5, one's moving, and the other is light and very fantasy-blown. 3:12 In poem 322 323, in Episode Five, There Once Was a Little Girl, we're talking about the poet's experience as a hyperimagining. If we were to reframe things, wouldn't we put everything in our most ideal or most exaggerated experience if we were reframing? 3:37 If we're using the power of storytelling to reframe our experience, wouldn't we go full-blown? And so when I say fantasy-blown, I'm talking about that. That's like a word I'm coining. But the fact that my poem 323, which I've nicknamed a superhero one, reads like prose, right? It's meant to be prosy. 4:04 It's intentionally written to resemble a children's book—even the title, There Once Was a Little Girl is evocative of a children's book. There are also supernatural aspects to the poet's childhood in episode five, right? So, for one, the dog is telepathic, and the dog's telepathy is a metaphor for the girl's compassion. 4:35 Or telepathy, in general, if you really understand somebody, you see them. And if you see them, you deeply love them. And that's what I was going for when I threw in the supernatural ability for this dog to be telepathic. Here, there's interaction. There's a fictional interaction here. 5:03 The girl is surrounded by these incredible femme people in her life. She's told she's ordinary, which is meant to protect her from harm. But the poem suggests that the little girl's ability to love is her own superpower. It's whimsy. It's light. 5:26 When we look at Morning Poem 324 today, you want to believe the poet has created some distance. Not everyone knows the details of my life. And if you think getting lost at an amusement park was hurtful enough, good. There's more. The poem begins with the poet's experience of being separated from her parents. 6:00 It speaks to a hero's journey. And once you get to know some of these poems a lot deeper, you'll see that as a writer, I go back and explore these poems’ themes of separation and loss. For example, I was separated from my mom for over eight hours in the hospital because I came out 6:27 so white, my mother was so brown, and they thought they switched babies on my mother. And in that poem, you can see a little bit of my mother's Love, even though it's a little skewed, like my mom's hand holding onto me tight when she finds me. 6:59 So, this begins with my experience of being separated from my parents. I cried when I read the following. I'm just going to reread some of the other things that come up because there are just two key elements: Two key themes that my bot said I couldn't fully express and put into words. 7:25 The poem reflects on the power of memory. The poet's vivid recollection of her experience suggests that even seemingly insignificant events can impact our lives. This theme is often found in narrative poems and speaks to the importance of our past experiences in shaping who we are. 7:50 It's now 4th of July. I just saw Inside Out. The search for identity is another thing that the bot comes up with. The poem touches on the theme of a search for identity. The experience of being lost and found suggests that we are all searching for our place in the world. 8:15 The theme is often found in narrative poems, and it speaks to the universal human experience of searching for meaning and purpose. Go AI, you get language. You may get it statistically, but you get it. Okay. There's also the other theme of the kindness of strangers, and besides loss and separation, if we... 8:47 You know, my therapist, my late therapist of nine years, passed away suddenly. And that was about four or five years ago. And she used to say her birthday's coming up on July 22nd. In her Brooklyn accent, Marcia Baum used to say, fall, and the world will hold you up. 9:13 And I definitely can get that now, so many years later. In this poem, the little girl in me has fallen, spiraling out of control. But the strangers find her here, and the world holds her up. So, for this long time, I had this mistrust with strangers for a good reason. 9:40 I came from a rough childhood. I had been harmed. At 17, something even worse happened to me. Without going into the details, sometimes I have to ask myself how I have recovered from this. I can't begin to tell you, but writing Lost and Found was reconciling my trust in strangers. 10:11 The couple who finds the little girl in the poem offers comfort and is portrayed in compassionate and caring ways. The author wants to believe that there are good people out there. It doesn't seem raw, but the events are as real to her as she can imagine. 10:34 As she even ponders, I even ponder to this day, did he—actually—buy me a big blue lollipop? If he did, what does that say subconsciously? So, I think... Blue, the lollipop is blue, and in color psychology, if I've learned anything by working in marketing for so long, the color blue conveys trust. 11:05 And then I asked my bot, and it dredged some good points. So, the blue lollipop also can also signify trust and loyalty, which is something the adult I provide in my relationships with others and what I equally desire. One of the things I oftentimes talk about in my poetry is that I use dogs to convey unconditional love. 11:39 So it's not just a dog walking around and, oh, I'm going to write about it. It's much deeper than that. My unconditional love is discarded. The speaker compares being neglected to being lost to being a stray dog. That's heavy. Both are narrative poems; both locate meaning and purpose, 12:07 both use repetition since that is an element I'm personally embedding into my work. One poem is fantastical, right? The other is introspective, and it helps us piece together my complex childhood and what remains. A poet must string together these images to convey the themes, or at least for me in this lifetime, 12:38 to convey the themes of family, identity, and the power of love. On one hand, Through our relationships with others, our idealized parents, or our ancestors with telepathic dogs, it's sometimes tough to wade through these personal events. But I believe that we're all here for connection. 13:16 That concludes Episode 6 of the Morning Poems podcast. It was produced by Tess McCarthy, and it is based on the original poetry written and spoken by Tess McCarthy. I want to make content accessible and won't build a paywall until some conditions are met. So, like, thousands of subscribers. So I'm going to ask you, hey... If you want to subscribe, subscribe. However, if you do subscribe, guess what? 13:42 I'm going to make you a T-shirt or some art or a really sexy thank you letter. I'm also looking to partner with quality nonprofit sponsors for this show, so if you're interested in supporting the Morning Poems podcast, DM me. You can follow me on Instagram, but you don't have to. Just follow me here, please. 14:06 Alternatively, you can find this podcast by searching for the Morning Poems podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Don't get your podcast that way. What's wrong with you? Rhetorical question. Okay, never to worry. The Morning Poems podcast will be on YouTube and elsewhere. Just keep your fingers crossed, and I'll get to it. 14:28 Before I sign off, I'm so glad you stuck around for episode six. Next up. Next is episode seven, and the poem, “I Didn't Like Going to Mass,” originally published on Facebook as I Didn't Like Going to Mass, Part 1. It's from June 25, 2016. Stay tuned. Go ahead now…🫱 - Share🤑 - Subscribe💬 - Leave a (NICE) Comment♥️ - Love This👌 - DM Me, I’m O.K. Get full access to MorningPoems at tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe (https://tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

13. 

    9 Jul 2024

    MorningPoems Podcast S.1, E.6, Part 1: Reading of MorningPoem #324, "Lost and Found"

    SUMMARYIn Season One, Episode Six of the Morning Poems podcast, host and poet Tess McCarthy shares' Lost and Found, ' one of her poems written in 2015. Content Warning:The episode highlights the poet’s childhood experience of getting lost at Knott's Berry Farm, then being found by a young couple who take her to Lost and Found.Exploring themes of childhood abandonment, familial neglect, and the process of cognitive reframing, Tess reflects on her feelings of being unprioritized within her chaotic mixed-race family and the powerful impact of feeling wanted by the strangers who found her. She encourages her audience to consider their experiences of feeling lost or neglected and emphasizes the therapeutic power of capturing such stories in poetic form.About Tess McCarthy:Tess is on a mission. They have written over 1,400 poems and aim to surpass Emily Dickinson’s poetry count of about 1,800 poems. “There is power in poetry…the form invites us to encapsulate our story.” 2015 June 24, 2015 MorningPoem #324 Lost and FoundOne time at Knott’s Berry FarmI got lost.It was a farm at one timethat grew berries,and the family made jam,but converted their farminto an amusement park, something like a county fairwith rides and a beer garden, and we have our setting. I don’t know why my mother or dad lost hold of my handbut they let go of my gripand a crowd movedthrough usnot knowing we were bonded—together They let me slip.Then,I was aloneand felt discarded.My whole world was gonereplaced by a world of strangers—and just a world. Had I been older—much older—I could’ve found my way around the farm,the rollercoasters’ steelwouldn’t scare me. I was 5 or 6 when they lost me–kidnapping age:old enough to feel alone,and ripe enough to understandI lost my folksthey were goneand I couldn’t hear them looking for me. I felt like a stray dog.How’d stray dogs get lost, anyways?I cannot tell, but if they’re cutesomeone finds themand then two someonesfind me:A young couple—a woman with curly blonde hair, and a young man with gingery long hair—bushy mustache. “Are you lost, little girl?”She said like a fairy godmother–not like a wolf who could eat you;the boyfriend (or husband)kneeled down to wipe tears off my face, and said,“Oh boy, these tears of yourskeep coming out like rain falling a fountain.””Your tears have flooded your blouse, kiddo,” she said,as he stroked my hairand she held me/hugged me, “It’s okay, we will find your family,they can’t be so far,and they wouldn’t leave you behind, I know so, it’s so silly,why should they run away from a little girlwith a pretty face and a cute button nose,with chestnut brown hairthat shines red goldin the sun?” She kept hugging me,like hugging all the terriblefears and doubts I hadbeing so lost.“Jim, I wish we could keep her,”she said,“Me too–whatta sweetie,” andhe ran off for helpand now I was trembling.“I have no where to go,no where to go,” I said itseveral times, and by nowthe woman’s husband ran backto us with a big blue lolly popand directions to “Lost and Found.”Sometime later, they came to claim me—this rag-tag bunch,my chaotic family. I look back at the couple holding each other as I wave bye, my mother squeezes my hand tight. I finally got found—I guess. I knew I was happy Mom showed up, and my dad was there, too, watching over my siblings. As comforting as it was to see them, I wanted something more sure, for I wished the couple who found mewould have kept me. Note to self: * It would be a dream of mine if Jodi Foster could read this poem! HIGHLIGHTS + FAVORITE QUOTESTIMESTAMP // CHAPTER TITLES 0:00 S.1, E.6, PART I00:05 Introduction to Morning Poems Podcast On Emily Dickinson, a“19th Century recluse and supposed Sapphic…” 00:39 Host Introduction and Obsession with Emily Dickinson "Who’s counting? I am!” "I found out that Emily Dickinson had a Scorpio rising like me!”01:36 Housekeeping and Episode Overview "Episode 5? I hope you like my face."02:53 Introducing Today's Poem: Lost and Found 05:50 Analyzing the Poem: Childhood Memories and Reframing07:34 Exploring Family Dynamics and Cultural Identity "If I lost me, I would have had that entire park shut down.”"The good thing about autobiographical records is the person telling the story is the Chief Custodian of their records."17:47 The Power of Poetry and Personal Reflection "I invite you all to pick one event in your life where you felt lost, unseen, abandoned, Afraid your needs wouldn't get met. Anything similar to this poem." 19:19 Intro to Reading the Poem: Lost and Found 23:54 June 24, 2015, MorningPoem #324 "Lost and Found" Reading 28:18 The Speaker's Background Dynamics in "Lost and Found." I finally got found,but I wish the people who found mewould have kept me. I’m the little white girl in the dress, encircled. SHOW NOTESMorning Poems Podcast, S.1, E.6, “Lost and Found”Unpacking Childhood Through Poetry: Emily Dickinson (Again), Family, and HealingAs always, at the top of her pod, she expresses her determination to surpass Emily Dickinson's poem count. But deeper into the episode, she touches on the emotional weight of her mixed-race childhood. Tess also reflects on the significance of being found by a caring couple and questions her family's efforts to find her. This episode delves into themes of childhood abandonment, family dynamics, and the therapeutic power of poetry. No blue lollipops were hurt in the recording of this episode. Go ahead now…🫱 - Share🤑 - Subscribe💬 - Leave a (NICE) Comment♥️ - Love This👌 - DM Me, I’m O.K. Get full access to MorningPoems at tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe (https://tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

14. 

    8 Jul 2024

    The MorningPoems Podcast, Season 1: The Midseason Trailer

    Jesus almighty--a podcast trailer? Why now? Because you can’t have a podcast without a trailer. I don’t care that it’s smack dab in the middle of Season 1, but here we are. This, by the way, is the LONGEST trailer you'll ever hear. // 00:00 / Introduction to the Morning Poems Podcast // 03:29 Why I Started This Podcast // 03:46 Making Poetry Accessible // 05:00 Talking About Reading Poetry Aloud // 06:47 Stephanie's Response // 12:29 The Importance of Alt Text // 15:06 The Future of My Voice // 17:31 My Poetry as My Legacy // 18:27 A Glimpse into My Family Background // 21:28 The Comfort of Being Read To // 22:16 Season One Lineup // 26:13 Upcoming Poems and Episodes You can check Stephanie Householder Walker's incredible photography on Instagram at: @stephaniehw “…poetry for me is almost always a call and response. The poet is calling out into the world. Hey, what's wrong? Or the poet is singing like a bird in it. That's a metaphor. I use a lot in my poetry.” My Progress Thusfar Get full access to MorningPoems at tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe (https://tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

15. 

    4 Jul 2024

    MorningPoems Podcast, S.1, E.5: "Girls on Film Edition" Tess Reads MorningPoems #29 & #323

    See them walking hand in hand across the bridge at midnight, Batman! It’s me, Tess! And I’m showing my mug on video. UPDATE: This video has been up for days, and no one’s told me my mascara was running!? What’s wrong with you all? Ah, that’s right: No one’s engaging with my content. June 30, 2014 MorningPoem #29 Afternoon: I saw the snowfall in my mind's eye so silently. And, I can look up at it for hours until my eyes got frosted over with snowflakes and my cheeks hardened with cold in real life. Real snow is cold, and puffy tear drops from a baby's face. Real snow is the tears of unrequited love or the silence after an argument. Tears are like snow. But no tears in my mind. Just the snow. I cooed to myself, "You have to see through the spaces to see the infinite sky. There is nothing else; yes, only fallen snow. Not a snowball that turns into avalanches." June 23, 2015 MorningPoem #323 There Once Was a Little Girl: Who was raised by a family of super heroines her mother and other mother’s older sister grandmother and great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother all of her 88 aunties, even her 104 girl cousins were super or had incredible talent; They all told her she wasn’t original: she was ordinary, so that made her safe from enemies, if she had any, they'd be as ordinary as she And SuperMom Number One dashed through the kitchen window on first alarm flying out into the atmosphere in her gold cape, "Don't forget to feed Rex!" she said and zoomed off to find criminals on escape! And SuperMom Number Two left with a screech in a peach super mobile, and the girl was alone in her room playing “Witch on her broom,” then she fed her teacup poodle, Rex and Rex reads minds and is telepathic, (not bad for a dog, for he reminded her to feed him),then reported to SuperMoms, "She loves you," and they asked Rex to kiss her back,they all thought that the little girl must have a superpower after all: The ability to love like no other. It’s like that Depeche Mode song, right? Tell me you just can’t get enough…🫱 - Share this episode🤑 - Sponsor/Subscribe💬 - Leave a (NICE) Comment♥️ - Love this👌 - DM me, O.K.? Get full access to MorningPoems at tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe (https://tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

16. 

    1 Jul 2024

    MorningPoems S.1, E.4 - The Passage of Time and Unrequited ADHD: MorningPoems Number 28 and 322

    TIMESTAMPS / CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to the Morning Poems Podcast 00:58 Challenges and Realizations in Podcasting 02:36 Shoutouts and Personal Anecdotes 03:05 Today's Poems and Their Background 03:21 Reading and Analyzing Morning Poem 28 04:31 Reading and Analyzing Morning Poem 322 11:08 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes SYNOPSIS In this episode of the Morning Poems Podcast, Tess McCarthy revisits her past poetic works and provides insightful commentary on the creative process. She also introduces herself and her ambitious goal of surpassing Emily Dickinson's poem count.Segments Include: * Introduction: Tess shares her passion for poetry and the joy of rereading her old works. * Challenges and Quirks: Tess discusses the technical difficulties faced in previous episodes and emphasizes the importance of authenticity. * Audience Engagement: Encourages listeners to follow her on Instagram and discusses the labor involved in creating the podcast. * Shoutouts: Tess gives special mentions to friends who have supported her journey. * Poetry Background: Detailed exploration of poems from June 22nd, focusing on their themes and inspirations. Tess reads Morning Poem 28 ("MMP") and Morning Poem 321 ("They Don't Teach You How to Juggle Balls in Grade School"). * Poetry Analysis: An in-depth look at the poem “They Don’t Teach You How to Juggle Balls in Grade School” links the juggling metaphor to time management and early education. * Conclusion: Tess previews upcoming episodes, including a light-hearted Episode Five and an emotional Episode Six. Call to Action: Listeners are encouraged to subscribe, leave ratings, and provide feedback. Tess also mentions the possibility of making T-shirts for supporters. Stay tuned for more poetic explorations and heartfelt reflections in Episode Five, and get prepared to cry when we get to Episode 6! MorningPoem #28: MMP (Monday Morning Poem) MMP: If I envisioned the future to be this way, just as it is now,in a cinema-topographic landscape where the morning sun looks like afternoon skies, or, as if Ridley Scott himself teleported into 2014 (from my vantage point in 1984), I'd be tickled. The next thirty years, I hope, the afternoon sun will look like the dawn, and the plants—they won't be reliant on water but air. I can only imagine: I see their tendrils snapping in the hyper-evolving futuristic world. MorningPoem #322: They Don’t Teacher How to Juggle Balls in Grade School They teach you structure.Visitors come by to show you juggling but there's never a class to take, and you can beg your parents to get you a set of balls, but they tell you, "no," if they are the kind of parents who always tell you, "no," and then you don't learn, because they tell you you're too clumsy. Unless, if you're an autodidact, and you teach yourself on your dad's golf balls the ones he never uses, and then he gets mad at you, and punishes you for putting them to good use: Oh, and for losing one to the gutter. So you give up on juggling, and you save it for the clowns who never teach you either, and then, you never know what it's like to physically move things in the air, to reliably catch things as they hit your hands. And your mind, your little mind, doesn't learn how to deal with one thing or several things coming at you, and then you grow up and realize life uses the same mechanics: You have to balance aspects out, yes, you do need structure and routine but for chrissake, in life's randomness you got to juggle to beat the struggle. Are you loving the MorningPoems Podcast? Goodie… 🫱 - Share this episode🤑 - Sponsor/Subscribe 💬 - Leave a (NICE) Comment ♥️ - Love this👌 - DM me, O.K.? Get full access to MorningPoems at tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe (https://tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

17. 

    25 Jun 2024

    MorningPoems S.1, E.3: Emily Dickinson, Commitment Shyness, AI Voices, and a Cab Story

    SYNOPSIS In Season 1, Episode 3 of the MorningPoems podcast, host and poet Tess McCarthy reads and discusses poetry from their MorningPoems series, then talks about Emily Dickinson's prolific year in 1862—which takes committed effort. Tess shares insights into her writing process and her lack of commitment out of fear in general with projects. She briefly mentions how MorningPoems became a daily poetry habit that enriches her life. The episode features MorningPoem #575, 'Nothing to Add to the Debate,' exploring themes of economic disparity and social observation in San Francisco. Listeners are also invited to follow Tess's Instagram @morningpoems_ for more poetry updates. 00:00 Introduction to MorningPoems Podcast // 01:03 Housekeeping and Social Media // 01:36 The Power of Reading Poetry Aloud // 02:28 Emily Dickinson's Miraculous Year // 04:01 Meditative Writing Process // 05:46 Today's Poem, MorningPoem #575: “Nothing to Add to the Debate” // 07:31 Comparing Poems and Social Commentary // 10:49 Intro to the Poem Reading // 13:19 Closer Wow. This recording is so—funny. The core of voice is here, but depending on how I’ve made the recordings, it makes me sound like a different woman! It’s Monday night, and I’m queuing up Episode 4 for edits. MorningPoem #575Nothing to Add to the Debate For three dollars plus tip, I walked up to a cab driver as he was outside his cab because I didn’t know what Uber or Lyft was because it was windy and cold, so I nabbed this cab. But the cabby told me he couldn't take me right away and invited me to hop in the car to keep warm. He was shopping for fruitat a sidewalk market in the Mission on Mission, and yes, he is on a missiongetting food for his in-lawsbecause it was right around the time for his familyto break the fast--at Ramadan. A slow young girl rings me up because I get out of the car and decide to buy bananasand still, it's windy and cold, and he tells me I can get back inside his cabbecause he's almost done. From the inside,I watch a homeless man pinch a plum, another man pick one up and run, and little old ladies elbow each other over cucumbers. There are tall, well-heeled tech guys passing by, they walk side by side hogging up the sidewalk andone of them bumps into the older womanin the shoulder,I think the tech guy apologizedhe gently semi-pat the woman's arm and smiledhis friend smiled at her with a "Are we cool?" look. Both walk on; I sit and watch life unfoldbefore long, I am homethere was no need to interjector interact, so I just watched. Hey, I do this out of love—here’s your call to action:🫱 - Share 🤑 - Subscribe 💬 - Leave a (NICE) Comment ♥️ - Love This👌 - Tell Me I’m O.K. Get full access to MorningPoems at tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe (https://tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

18. 

    23 Jun 2024

    MorningPoems S.1, E.2: From Morning to Mourning. Unveiling Morning Poetry of June 22nd & July 22nd

    Title: Season 1, Episode 2: From Mourning to Morning: Unveiling Morning Poetry of June 22nd & July 22nd IntroductionWelcome to Season 1, Episode 2 of the Morning Poems Podcast. A podcast where I read poetry from my Facebook and Instagram accounts is found under the hashtag Morning Poems. I'm your host and poet, Tess McCarthy. My claim to fame is that I've written over 1,400 poems and counting. I want to beat the dickens out of poet Emily Dickinson, who wrote over 1,800 poems in her lifetime. So, no pressure; only 400 poems to go! Housekeeping and Social MediaI think beating a dead poet's poem count is a respectful lifetime achievement, but some housekeeping. Episode one does not have an intro. Sorry. Maybe it's better that way. I will teach elementary school in the fall and can only commit to pure poetry. So, if you don't get any intro and just the poem, that's great. Speaking of which, if you like my poetry, you can follow me on Instagram at Morning Poems, but more often than not, I'm posting about my life on that account, not poetry. So, to hear all of my wonderful morning poems, you'll have to stay tuned to this little podcast. Before I read, this project is a testimony to my almost daily habit of writing poetry. I'm proud of it and want to share it with you all. Since I did most of it upon waking, my friend Shelly came up with the idea to hashtag the poems on Facebook as morning poems. And there we are. My special shout out to my friend and fellow librarian, Shelly. We have her to thank for being Muse number one for this. Today's Poems and Their BackgroundToday is June 22nd, 2024, at 5:18 PM. In this episode, I read poems originally written on June 22nd. One is MorningPoem 27, and the other I'll read is [Morning Poem #341]. And if we're lucky, I'll post Morning Poem 500 something. Entitled "Nothing to Add to the Debate." This catalog is from my original Facebook account, where my friend and I dredged up all of my morning poems, and she lovingly stuck them on a spreadsheet for me. So we're reading pretty much from the spreadsheet, and then right before I record the poems and speak them out loud, I do a second edit. We'll want to say that there's a lot. And sometimes, we might have more than one poem on the same day in a different year. And today is that day where we have three. Morning Poem 27 is from 2007 and 2014, excuse me, and Morning Poem 320, written on that same day in a different year, is from 2015. So we have Morning Poem 27 from 2014 and Morning Poem 320 from 2015. These poems are numbered because that's the number of poems they are in my catalog of poetry. Reflections on Poetry and LossAstrologically, the sun is in full bloom in cancer on June 22nd. Somehow, themes of Monday Morning and my mother are up in this episode. My mother passed away in July 2014, a month before morning poem number 27 was written. So we have a year of mourning my mother between Poem number 27 and [MorningPoem #341]. So, I noticed the difference between the two when I read them. You'll see that I've processed my mom. We've had this whole time between talking about the trivialities of drinking coffee and being up in the morning to relating with my mom in such a way in that second poem that I can put myself in my shoes. Then I can also put myself in her shoes while growing up, and I hope you enjoy both. One is very light. And then the second one is just very loving. I think the gift of being an older adult and losing your mother is that oftentimes, a parent dies, and we don't get to process these feelings. And so poetry has been a way for me to process everything left unsaid between me and my mother. And without further ado, I hope you enjoy these two poems, possibly three, and listen on. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for subscribing. Poem 1 - June 22nd, 2014. Morning Poem #27:Oh No, it's a Monday PoemAnother Monday? Oh no. Was it only Wednesday? How'd this happen? Wasn't I harping about being real in the here and now on Wednesday? And my coffee ritual and poetry? This Monday, I'm not goofing around by heating up coffee ten times because I should have drank it when it was hot. It's cool, cold, and cloudy outside, but my Monday is not. It's hot, fresh out of the depths of some semi-soiled microwave of my life. Monday dings and it's the perfect temperature. So, I refocus and sip life. Poem 2 - June 22nd, 2015. Morning Poem #341:That was Then, This is NowIt's not hard to believe that my mother, the same age I'm now, had a second life with us younger kids. She could have stopped with my brothers, but then we wouldn't have a sister, me, or an adorable little brother. Could I accomplish that same feat by raising a family, young babies in my middle age, and their teens in retirement? My mother didn't tell us she was too old to have children, for she blended in with the other mothers in age and religion. No one knew her age or the number on the bottle of her hair dye. And I didn't know my mom's age either because I thought she was the norm. Her skin looked fresh as dairy cream and brown as caramel candy. For all I knew, she was this product that didn't expire—not like Twinkies, no, but more like honey, which never spoils or wrinkles. It wasn't until I was in my twenties that I realized my mom was markedly older than my friend's moms. She looked and acted young for so long that I joked that her secret was sleeping in Tupperware. Underneath appearances, I realized I had limited time with her on Earth. Selfishly, I prayed to her to have her until I was a hundred. But prayers are only prayers. They are answered, of course, but not always fulfilled. If all sorts of prayers were answered, we'd have what we wanted but not necessarily needed. And for me, I needed a higher answer to my wishes. And this is a definite lesson:Cherish your mother for as long as you have her because, like refrigerated cream, she expires, too. Transcript edited for clarity Get full access to MorningPoems at tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe (https://tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

19. 

    22 Jun 2024

    MorningPoems Podcast, Season 1, Episode 1: MorningPoem #321

    Tess Reads "Poor Doggie"Poor Doggie Stormy weather inside my dog heart, too hard when my human parents part, and off she goes to yoga boot camp. The other one stays with me for a bit, sipping her coffee, petting the top of my head, and then she rustles and gets up, puts a helmet on her head, to go off to work for a long, long, long time, and I hear her footsteps down the hall, but earlier, we had a good morning, --everyone happy! I go out, come in, get breakfast, --then they go! Hard to think now when they'll come back, but, hmmm, I think one of them is coming back home to me. I hear the car down the street and can't smell her yet, but she's returning from that stupid yoga boot camp.__June 21, 2015 Get full access to MorningPoems at tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe (https://tessmccarthy.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 21 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

30

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32