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Programme 12: 27th August 2005

Programme 11: 20th August 2005

Programme 10: 13th August 2005

Programme 9: 6th August 2005

Programme 8: 30th July 2005

Programme 7: 23rd July 2005

Programme 6: 16th July 2005

Programme 5: 9th July 2005
AND  I  WAS  SORROW

"And I was sorrow and stayed in a cave
And I was pride and built beyond the stars
Now I build in the nearest tree
and in the morning when I waken
the pine threads its needle with gold."

That short but profound poem is one of the many examples of contemporary poetry from Norway which presenter Mary O'Donnell and guest poet, translator and scolar, Micheal O Siadhail discuss in this week's "Crossing the Line."

Michael O Siadhail, who has a distinguished career and international reputation as a poet in both English and Irish, has for many years immersed himself in the literature of Norway. He has translated into English the work of several contemporary Norwegian poets such as Halldis Moren Vesaas, Einar Skjaeraasen and Gunnar Reiss-Andersen. While these poets' work may not be widely known outside their own homeland, their poetry is remarkable, philosophical, lyrical and addressing the
great love for nature of the native population of Norway.

Michael O Siadhail talks with great passion and authority on contemporary Norwegian poetry and will open the windows of wonder to a whole new world. His own new collection of poetry will be launched in the autumn.

"Crossing the Lines" is presented by Mary O'Donnell and produced by Seamus Hosey.

Programme 4: 2nd July 2005

Programme 3: 25th June 2005

Programme 2: 18th June 2005

Programme 1: 11th June 2005
The first programme in the series focuses on Holland with Irish poet,translator and screenwriter, Michael O'Loughlin and Dutch poet, novelist and classical singer, Judith Mok, discussing and reading in English and Dutch a selection of the best poetry of recent times written in the Netherlands.

Dubliner Michael O'Loughlin was surprised to discover a sophisticated and developed literature in Holland when he first went to live in Amsterdam in the 1980's. In the programme Michael reads some of his own translations from the poetry of Gerrit Achterberg  whose use of surreal language and imagery influenced a whole generation of post World War 11 poets.

Judith Mok reads some of the poetry of her father, Maurits Mok, a major Dutch poet who died in 1989 having exerted a strong influence on his daughter's development as a writer. His powerful poem "The Face of God After Auschwitz" still strikes home today fifty years after that atrocity of war. In a poignant moment in the
programme Judith Mok brings the story full circle when she reads her own poem in memory of her father, "In Memoriam Patris" :

       "My father turned dust into gold,
        built storm palaces, hunted language
        and rode miraculous horses"

"Crossing the Lines" is presented by Mary O'Donnell and
produced by Seamus Hosey.