Shows / Sketch Poetry
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
- Sketch Poetry
The Listeners-Walter de la Mare 🚪🎃(Bonus Interview with Steve from Haunted UK Podcast)
Send us Fan Mail ‘Is there anybody there?’ said the Traveller, Knocking on the moonlit door...' Joe takes a brisk stroll in the autumn dark with this…
Sketch PoetryA Poison Tree-William Blake 🍏
Send us Fan Mail 'I was angry with my friend; I told my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe: I told it not, my wrath did grow...' Joe reflects on…
- Sketch Poetry
Leisure-W.H Davies 🐿️
Send us Fan Mail 'What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare?' Joe takes a much-needed walk in nature. Support the show Get in…
Sketch PoetryInvictus-William Ernest Henley 🏉
Send us Fan Mail 'Out of the night that covers me, black as the pit from pole to pole/ I thank whatever Gods may be for my unconquerable soul...' Joe goes back…
- Sketch Poetry
A Christmas Carol (In the Bleak Midwinter) by Christina Rossetti. ✝️
Send us Fan Mail '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…
- Sketch Poetry
*Sketch Prose**-A Warning to the Curious by M.R James 👑
Send us Fan Mail "No diggin' 'ere." Support the show Get in touch: thesketchpoet@gmail.com
- Sketch Poetry
**Sketch Prose** Stave 5-The End of It-A Christmas Carol
Send us Fan Mail Merry Christmas! God bless us, everyone. Support the show Get in touch: thesketchpoet@gmail.com
- Sketch Poetry
**Sketch Prose** Stave 4-The Third of the Spirits--A Christmas Carol
Send us Fan Mail Scrooge is shown his future, and eventually (though it takes some time) realises he needs to change his ways. Support the show Get in touch…
- Sketch Poetry
**Sketch Prose** Stave 3-The Second of the Spirits--A Christmas Carol
Send us Fan Mail Scrooge is shown his present, and it's not what he was expecting. Support the show Get in touch: thesketchpoet@gmail.com
Sketch Poetry**Sketch Prose** A Christmas Carol-Marley's Ghost by Charles Dickens
Send us Fan Mail 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…
- Sketch Poetry
**Sketch Prose** Stave 2-The First of the Spirits--A Christmas Carol
Send us Fan Mail Scrooge is shown his past. Support the show Get in touch: thesketchpoet@gmail.com
Sketch PoetryTo Autumn-John Keats 🍂
Send us Fan Mail 'Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness...' Joe takes a stroll in his hometown and kicks through some autumn leaves in keeping with the…
- Sketch Poetry
Bridport Harbour-William Barnes 𓊝
Send us Fan Mail '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…
Sketch PoetryFour, for Pete.
Send us Fan Mail Four Larkin poems for my former teacher, mentor, and friend Mr. Pete Winfield. Poems: High Windows, Days, Church Going, An Arundel Tomb. Miss…
- Sketch Poetry
Sonnet 18-William Shakespeare 🌞
Send us Fan Mail 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?' Joe takes a stroll to the theatre and discusses this summer sonnet by Shakespeare. Support the show…
- Sketch Poetry
To the Virgins, To Make Much of Time-Robert Herrick 🥀
Send us Fan Mail 'Gather ye rosebuds while ye may...' Joe talks about Carpe Diem, and Robin Williams. Support the show Get in touch: thesketchpoet@gmail.com
- Sketch Poetry
Cut Grass-Philip Larkin 🌱
Send us Fan Mail 'Cut grass lies frail...' Recorded last year originally for the Philip Larkin Society's 'Joe Riley Presents' mini-series. A great lyric poem…
- Sketch Poetry
The Building-Philip Larkin🏥
Send us Fan Mail 'Higher than the handsomest hotel...' Joe has, through some tricky circumstances, been visiting a particular building and thinks you should…
- Sketch Poetry
The Mower-Philip Larkin 🦔
Send us Fan Mail '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 Poetry
How to Leave the World that Worships Should-Ros Barber ✉️ (feat. Ros Barber)
Send us Fan Mail '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…
- Sketch Poetry
London-William Blake
Send us Fan Mail 'I wander thro' each chartered street, near where the chartered Thames does flow And mark in every face I meet, marks of weakness, marks of…
- Sketch Poetry
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening-Robert Frost ❄️
Send us Fan Mail '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…
Sketch PoetryThe Raven-Edgar Allan Poe 🐦⬛
Send us Fan Mail 'Once upon a midnight dreary...' A bumper Christmas episode. Enjoy during this bleak December! NEVERMORE! *Re-uploaded due to initial sound…
Sketch Poetry**Sketch Prose** Oh Whistle and I'll Come to You, My Lad-M.R James 👻🎄
Send us Fan Mail 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…
Sketch PoetryThe Forest-Joe Riley
Send us Fan Mail TW: Suicide. The Forest. An original poem by yours truly. Read along with it here. In honour of Movember, Joe shares his bad mental health day…
- Sketch Poetry
Sketch Poetry-A Trailer
Send us Fan Mail The official trailer for Sketch Poetry. Share far and wide with anyone you think might like the show! Support the show Get in touch…
- Sketch Poetry
Halloween in a Suburb-H.P Lovecraft 👻🎃
Send us Fan Mail 'The steeples are white in the wild moonlight' Do not listen to this late at night. Support the show Get in touch: thesketchpoet@gmail.com
- Sketch Poetry
All Hallows-Louise Glück 🎃
Send us Fan Mail 'Even now this landscape is assembling.' Joe kicks off spooky season with a little number from Louise Glück. There is a lot of preamble to go…
- Sketch Poetry
BBC Radio York Interview
Send us Fan Mail A recent radio spot Joe had with Hannah Sackville-Bryant from BBC York. They featured my Rossetti episode and I got to talk about the origins…
- Sketch Poetry
Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night-Dylan Thomas
Send us Fan Mail 'Do not go gentle into that good night" noswaith dda from Joe as he allows himself a couple of cheeky stouts in the pub, which is fitting…
- Sketch Poetry
Remember-Christina Rossetti
Send us Fan Mail 'Remember me when I am gone away Gone far away into the silent land' Joe takes an early autumn walk and remembers his wonderful father. This…
- Sketch Poetry
Wind-Ted Hughes
Send us Fan Mail 'This house has been far out at sea all night' Hold onto your hat, it's a bit breezy. Joe goes for a stroll in the wind and explores this…
- Sketch Poetry
Meditation on the A30-John Betjeman
Send us Fan Mail 'A man on his own in a car' This week: Joe braves the A3O on his own, on a bike! Listen to his thoughts on JB's Meditation on the A30. Support…
- Sketch Poetry
This Be the Verse-Philip Larkin
Send us Fan Mail 'They fuck you up, your mum and dad.' Joe (and his daughter) discuss parenting. Support the show Get in touch: thesketchpoet@gmail.com
- Sketch Poetry
Church Going-Philip Larkin
Send us Fan Mail 'Once I am sure there’s nothing going on I step inside, letting the door thud shut.' Join Joe as he alights his bike at St. Nicholas' church…
- Sketch Poetry
The Trees-Philip Larkin
Send us Fan Mail 'The trees are coming into leaf Like something almost being said' Join Joe as he takes a stroll under some huge trees on his regular dog walk…
- Sketch Poetry
The Whitsun Weddings-Philip Larkin
Send us Fan Mail 'That Whitsun, I was late getting away:' Join Joe on the train to London as he reads Larkin's masterpiece The Whitsun Weddings. Originally…