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The Poetry Detective

Daljit Nagra chooses The Poetry Detective with Richard Scott discussing the impact of Rainer Maria Rilke. Presented by Vanessa Kisuule.

Poet Daljit Nagra revisits the 麻豆社's poetry archive to mark 150 years since the birth of Rainer Maria Rilke.

He selects The Poetry Detective - a series where Vanessa Kisuule speaks to people about poems that offer invitations and make demands.

A poem by Rainer Maria Rilke has always meant a huge amount to the poet Richard Scott - with the stunning last line 'you must change your life'.

We speak to Rachel Corbett, author of 'You Must Change Your Life: The Story of Rainer Maria Rilke and Auguste Rodin' about the encounter between poet and sculptor and the huge impact it had on Rilke.

And Dr Altaf Saadi tells us about a Lucille Clifton poem she has carried in her pocket for many years and that has given her strength as a woman of Iranian-Iraqi heritage who came to the US a month before 9/11. A poem that Tara Betts also carries with her - as a tattoo covering her left arm.

Produced in Bristol by Mair Bosworth for 麻豆社 Audio

First broadcast on 麻豆社 Radio 4 in 2021.

30 minutes

Broadcasts

  • Sun 23 Nov 2025 07:00
  • Sun 23 Nov 2025 12:00
  • Sun 23 Nov 2025 18:00
  • Mon 24 Nov 2025 02:00