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  1. Podcasts/
  2. The Back of the Book/
  3. Stories in Stanzas
March 6, 2026
The Back of the Book•March 6, 2026

•Episode length: 1h 2m

Ricochet

Stories in Stanzas

Episode length: 1h 2m

Subscribe to The Back of the BookSubscribe

Sunil Iyengar, editor of an outstanding new poetry anthology, joins the podcast to discuss all things narrative verse: its origins, its virtues, and its place in contemporary poetry. He and Chris also take turns reading some memorable narrative poems, including some of their own.

Show notes:

  • Sunil's new anthology, The Colosseum Book of Contemporary Narrative Verse
  • Andy Ferguson on John McCain and Robert Service's “The Cremation of Sam McGee"
  • Sunil's poem “The Omission” (New Verse Review)
  • Chris's poem “Singing Along to Billy Joel at My Roommate’s First Wedding” (New Verse Review)

Time stamps:

5:00 – Why narrative poetry?

17:09 – The Colosseum Book of Contemporary Narrative Verse

36:05 – Memorable narrative poems

57:06 – Poems by Sunil and Chris

Opening and closing music: Brendan Benson, “Spit It Out,” used with permission from the artist.

Produced by Sean Doolan.

Hosted by Christopher J. Scalia

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