Sketch Poetry
Poetry read in a fitting setting, by teacher and poet of no great renown: Joe Riley.
Great poems from a range of eras read aloud in a place that befits them. No lectures, not too many long words or academic pretence; a chance to sketch out how a poem reaches your heart.
Want me to sketch a poem? thesketchpoet@gmail.com
Episodes
33 episodes
A Christmas Carol (In the Bleak Midwinter) by Christina Rossetti. ✝️
'In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan...'Joe is back with some poetry for you. In this episode he walks the ancient York city walls and reads this festive masterpiece from Rossetti. He also accosts some friendly tourists and ask...
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Season 2
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30:32
**Sketch Prose** Stave 5-The End of It-A Christmas Carol
Merry Christmas! God bless us, everyone.
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13:24
**Sketch Prose** Stave 4-The Third of the Spirits--A Christmas Carol
Scrooge is shown his future, and eventually (though it takes some time) realises he needs to change his ways.
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29:44
**Sketch Prose** Stave 3-The Second of the Spirits--A Christmas Carol
Scrooge is shown his present, and it's not what he was expecting.
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46:21
**Sketch Prose** A Christmas Carol-Marley's Ghost by Charles Dickens
Boo! This story needs no introduction.Once again, I found this recording from 2022 and I wanted to share it. If you want to hear the other Staves then please get in touch with me via email/subscribe.
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37:51
**Sketch Prose** Stave 2-The First of the Spirits--A Christmas Carol
Scrooge is shown his past.
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32:29
To Autumn-John Keats 🍂
'Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness...'Joe takes a stroll in his hometown and kicks through some autumn leaves in keeping with the wonderful John Keats.
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Season 2
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23:51
Bridport Harbour-William Barnes 𓊝
'Hill-warded haven, creek well found...'Joe takes a stroll in West Bay, Dorset and reads this little-known gem by William Barnes.Locals at the beginning deserve their own show, what a double-act!<...
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Season 2
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18:07
Four, for Pete.
Four Larkin poems for my former teacher, mentor, and friend Mr. Pete Winfield. Poems: High Windows, Days, Church Going, An Arundel Tomb.Miss you, Pete.
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1:11:34
Sonnet 18-William Shakespeare 🌞
'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?'Joe takes a stroll to the theatre and discusses this summer sonnet by Shakespeare.
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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19:24
To the Virgins, To Make Much of Time-Robert Herrick 🥀
'Gather ye rosebuds while ye may...'Joe talks about Carpe Diem, and Robin Williams.
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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29:08
Cut Grass-Philip Larkin 🌱
'Cut grass lies frail...'Recorded last year originally for the Philip Larkin Society's 'Joe Riley Presents' mini-series.A great lyric poem, best enjoyed in young-leafed nature.
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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14:15
The Building-Philip Larkin🏥
'Higher than the handsomest hotel...'Joe has, through some tricky circumstances, been visiting a particular building and thinks you should wander the corridors with him.If it doesn't come through in this episode: my absolute respe...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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42:12
The Mower-Philip Larkin 🦔
'The mower stalled, twice...'I've been asked to mow the lawn this weekend.Here's a throwback to late spring 2024, when I recorded my first sketch for the Philip Larkin Society. If you are a lover of Larkin, please check out their ...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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16:23
How to Leave the World that Worships Should-Ros Barber ✉️ (feat. Ros Barber)
'Let faxes butter-curl on dusty shelves...'Joe rings in spring by sitting in a sunny space and reads this wonderful poem for turbulent times. Ros Barber kindly agreed to be interviewed about this poem and the second half is l...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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59:00
London-William Blake
'I wander thro' each chartered street, near where the chartered Thames does flowAnd mark in every face I meet, marks of weakness, marks of woe...'Joe heads to the Big Smoke and speaks with John Riordan from the William Blake Socie...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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45:49
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening-Robert Frost ❄️
'Whose woods these are I think I know...'Happy 2025!Get your coat, get your gloves, get your...horse. We're going for a very bracing journey through the wintery landscape of this lovely poem. Audio at the beginning ...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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26:28
The Raven-Edgar Allan Poe 🐦⬛
'Once upon a midnight dreary...'A bumper Christmas episode. Enjoy during this bleak December!NEVERMORE!*Re-uploaded due to initial sound level issues.
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58:16
**Sketch Prose** Oh Whistle and I'll Come to You, My Lad-M.R James 👻🎄
Not poetry, but I recorded this last year and wanted to share it with you.A spooky tale for the fireside this Christmas by the masterful M.R James.Sceptical Professor Parkins takes a trip to Burnstow to indulge in some research, and...
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52:23
The Forest-Joe Riley
TW: Suicide.The Forest. An original poem by yours truly. Read along with it here.In honour of Movember, Joe shares hi...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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38:05
Sketch Poetry-A Trailer
The official trailer for Sketch Poetry. Share far and wide with anyone you think might like the show!
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Season 1
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1:42
Halloween in a Suburb-H.P Lovecraft 👻🎃
'The steeples are white in the wild moonlight'Do not listen to this late at night.
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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29:33