Marianne Szlyk: Communing With Trees, Flowers, Insects Through Verse

Marianne Szlyk is the author of three books of poetry: Listening to Electric Cambodia, Looking up at Trees of Heaven; I Dream of Empathy; and On the Other Side of the Window. Not owning a car, Marianne frequents public transit and takes many walks, during which she communes with trees, flowers, insects, and small mammals. She edits the blogzine The Song Is . . ., featuring poetry inspired by music. She is a professor of English at Montgomery College. Nepotism alert—Marianne is also my wife and inspiration.

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Poetry & Planet is produced by Ethan Goffman. Robert Frost’s “Birches” and Charlotte Smith’s “On Being Cautioned Against Walking on an Headland Overlooking the Sea, Because It Was Frequented by a Lunatic” are read by R. Michael Oliver. Musical excerpts from “Elements of Life” and “Earth Revisited” are written and performed by Reginald Cyntje, with vocals by Christie Dashiell. Aural interludes are by Douglas Harvey.

The opening poetry chorus is voiced by Jomo K. Johnson, Dr. Michael Anthony Ingram, Marianne Szlyk, and R. Michael Oliver.