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PODCAST

Rebecca"s Reading Room

Welcome to my Reading Room where stories dwell and words ignite our imagination. Rebecca’s Reading room is a virtual space that has been set aside for reading and reflection. It is a place where stories and poetry are given voice. I am your host, Rebecca Budd. I look forward to sharing these moments with you

arts books

All Episodes

00:04:50

The Elephant Child by D. Wallace Peach

Rebecca"s Reading Room ·

2025/12/01

S5 E18: The Elephant Child by D. Wallace Peach ©An elephant child, carefree and wildWalked into the wintry woodsHe followed fox tails and jackrabbit trailsIgnoring his mother’s “shoulds”Of course, he got lost and chilled by the frostAs night began to fallTo his rump he sunk and tooted his trunkBut no one answered his callOh, that cold night, to the elephant frightThe clouds began to snowHe sniffled and shivered, shook and quiveredHis nose he needed to blowThe blizzard swirled and snowflakes

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00:02:49

October by Robert Frost

Rebecca"s Reading Room ·

2025/11/04

S5 E17 October By Robert FrostO hushed October morning mild,Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,Should waste them all.The crows above the forest call;Tomorrow they may form and go.O hushed October morning mild,Begin the hours of this day slow.Make the day seem to us less brief.Hearts not averse to being beguiled,Beguile us in the way you know.Release one leaf at break of day;At noon release another leaf;One from our trees, one far away.Retard the sun with gentle

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00:02:21

Celebrating Halloween with Carl Sandburg

Rebecca"s Reading Room ·

2025/10/31

S5 EX: Celebrating Halloween with Carl SandburgHappy Halloween!Why do we love Halloween? Maybe it’s the thrill of shadows, the whispered stories of ghosts and goblins, or the sheer joy of transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary with costumes, pumpkins, and flickering candles. Halloween is a night where imagination takes the lead — where even the wind seems to carry secrets.Tonight, I’m celebrating Halloween with Carl Sandburg, who had a gift for finding poetry in the everyday. His short

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00:02:46

Letting Go – A Reflection on Sara Teasdale’s Poem,...

Rebecca"s Reading Room ·

2025/09/21

S5 E16: Letting Go – A Reflection on Sara Teasdale’s Poem, “Leaves”“One by one my leaves fall.As the wind wills I let them go.”So begins Sara Teasdale’s quietly powerful poem Leaves. With just two lines, she opens a meditation on release — not as an act of despair, but as an act of grace.Teasdale often wrote at the edges of feeling, where the heart meets the natural world. In Leaves, she surrenders to change — not passively, but with the wisdom of someone who has lived through many seasons. Each

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00:03:53

Happy Birthday Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Rebecca"s Reading Room ·

2025/08/29

S5 E15: Happy Birthday Johann Wolfgang von GoetheToday, August 28, 1749, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Poet, playwright, novelist, philosopher, scientist — Goethe embodied the boundless energy of creativity. His words carried the currents of human longing, joy, and striving into every corner of life.Centuries later, we still turn to him, not out of duty to the “canon,” but because his voice feels startlingly alive. He reminds us that literature is not static; it

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00:02:03

“Benediction” by Georgia Douglas Johnson

Rebecca"s Reading Room ·

2025/06/27

S5 E14: Benediction by Georgia Douglas JohnsonThere are moments in life when we are called to let go — not out of indifference, but out of deep, abiding love. Georgia Douglas Johnson’s Benediction captures such a moment with tenderness and strength. It is the voice of an elder, perhaps a parent or mentor, sending their beloved into the world with a heart full of hope and release.When I first read this poem, I felt a sense of destiny — not just for the speaker’s son, but for my own. We want the best

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00:03:11

The Valuable Time of Maturity by Mário Raul de Morais...

Rebecca"s Reading Room ·

2025/06/05

S5 E13 The Valuable Time of Maturity by Mário Raul de Morais AndradeOne of my first poetry recitation was the poem, “The Valuable Time of Maturity,” by the Brazilian literary giant Mário Raul de Morais Andrade. This piece found its serendipitous way to me through an email from my mother. Its heartfelt messages resonated deeply within me. As I navigate through life’s complexities, I find that Andrade’s eloquent reflections on the essence of time, maturity, and meaningful connections take on deeper

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00:02:36

As If The Sea Should Part by Emily Dickinson

Rebecca"s Reading Room ·

2025/05/29

S5 E12: As if the Sea should Part by Emily DickinsonThe poem "As If The Sea Should Part" by Emily Dickinson delves into the concept of infinity through the imagery of an infinite ocean. The speaker envisions the sea parting to reveal further seas, symbolizing an endless sequence and emphasizing the vastness of the natural world, ultimately questioning the limits of human perception.In contrast to some of Dickinson's other works, this poem is notably concise and centered on a singular

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00:03:09

Facing My Fears: A Poetry Meditation by Colleen M....

Rebecca"s Reading Room ·

2025/05/22

S5 E11: Facing My Fears: A Poetry Meditation by Colleen M. ChesbroFear is a powerful emotion that arises in response to perceived threats or dangers. It is an instinct that has evolved to protect us from harm. When we encounter something that triggers fear, our bodies prepare us for fight or flight.Facing My Fears by Colleen M Chesebro offers a poetry meditation on the power of releasing our anxieties – to embrace freedom to live with joy and hope.Please join me in reciting, Facing My Fears by

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00:05:37

Dorothy Dances by Louis Untermeyer

Rebecca"s Reading Room ·

2025/05/21

S5 E10: Dorothy Dances by Louis UntermeyerLouis Untermeyer’s poem “Dorothy Dances” captures the essence of youthful exuberance and the fleeting nature of joy. The poem vividly portrays the character of Dorothy, who embodies innocence and a carefree spirit. Through rich imagery and rhythmic cadence, Untermeyer captures the dance as a metaphor for life’s ephemeral moments.“Dorothy Dances” invites us to explore the interplay between innocence and the complexities of adult life. Reading this poem allows

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00:02:08

Sunshine after Cloud by Josephine D Heard

Rebecca"s Reading Room ·

2025/05/13

S5 E9: Sunshine After by Josephine D HeardJosephine Delphine Henderson Heard, an American poet linked to the Harlem Renaissance, made significant literary contributions that connect to earlier Black American writing traditions. Her poetry, characterized by directness and traditional forms like sonnets and ballads, explores themes of nature, faith, and racial identity, mirroring the sociopolitical context of her era. While her style was not as experimental as some later Harlem Renaissance poets,

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00:02:14

Celebrating Earth Day 2025 with Henry David Thoreau

Rebecca"s Reading Room ·

2025/04/23

S5 E8: Celebrating Earth Day 2025 with Henry David ThoreauEach year on Earth Day, I read from Henry David Thoreau’s famous work, Walden. My copy of Walden was a gift from my father which allows me to celebrate Earth Day by remembering our “Walden” conversations from years past. Dad agreed with Thoreau’s insights on living within our world: the importance of simplicity, self-sufficiency, and a deep appreciation for the natural environment that surrounds us. The changing seasons, the sounds of the

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00:02:47

Trees Need Not Walk This Earth by David Rosenthal

Rebecca"s Reading Room ·

2025/04/18

S5 E7: Celebrating National Poetry Month April 2025, Canada celebrates National Poetry Month with a heartfelt theme: family. This theme invites us to explore the intricate connections that define our lives, from the bonds with parents and siblings to the love shared with pets and soulmates. It encourages reflection on friendships that feel like family, even the nurturing of plants that bring life into our homes.Poetry serves as a lens through which we can examine the shape of family, highlighting

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00:02:40

A Light Exists In Spring by Emily Elizabeth Dickinson

Rebecca"s Reading Room ·

2025/04/14

S5 E6: A Light Exists In Spring by Emily Elizabeth DickinsonA Light Exists In Spring by Emily Elizabeth DickinsonSpring brings a unique light that awakens the earth and enhances the vibrancy of colours. Greens have a vivid radiance that energizes the spring blooms. As the mist of the new season settles, I feel the gentleness of the serene atmosphere, which invites me to open my arms wide to embrace the beauty around me. The fresh air is invigorating. It is a time of renewal and growth, where nature

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00:03:52

Songs for the People by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper

Rebecca"s Reading Room ·

2025/04/07

S5 E5: Songs for the People by Frances Ellen Watkins Let me make the songs for the people, Songs for the old and young;Songs to stir like a battle-cry Wherever they are sung. Not for the clashing of sabres, For carnage nor for strife;But songs to thrill the hearts of men With more abundant life. Let me make the songs for the weary, Amid life’s fever and fret,Till hearts shall relax their tension, And careworn brows forget. Let me sing for little children, Before their footsteps

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00:03:15

“Crossing the Bar” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Rebecca"s Reading Room ·

2025/04/03

S5 E4 ”Crossing the Bar” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson “Crossing the Bar” is a reflective poem written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. It was first published in 1889, just a few years before the poet’s death. The theme of mortality and the journey from life to death are embedded in these poetic words. “Crossing the Bar” is an extended metaphor to liken death to traversing the “sandbar” that separates the river of life, characterized by its flowing “flood,” from the vast ocean beyond death, referred to as the

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00:05:26

Woods in Winter by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Rebecca"s Reading Room ·

2025/02/22

S5 E3 Woods in Winter by Henry Wadsworth LongfellowReading poetry in the winter offers a unique comfort, as the cold, often bleak environment outside contrasts with the warmth and intimacy found in verse. The act of curling up with a collection of poems allows one to escape into a world of emotion and reflection, where the themes of solitude and introspection resonate deeply during the darker months. The rhythmic flow of words can evoke a sense of nostalgia and peace, making the experience of

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00:03:30

Surprised by Joy by William Wordsworth

Rebecca"s Reading Room ·

2025/02/07

S5 E2 Surprised by Joy William WordsworthSurprised by Joy’ is a heart-breaking poem written by William Wordsworth when recalling the grief of his daughter Catherine’s passing. The poem is written in the form of a sonnet, with the first eight lines describing his initial shock and disbelief, and the last six lines expressing his deep sorrow and regret. William Wordsworth experienced a great deal of pain throughout his life. His poem “Surprised by Joy” is an expressive piece that reflects on his

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00:02:03

Sea Fever by John Masefield

Rebecca"s Reading Room ·

2025/01/08

S5 E1: Sea Fever by John MasefieldStory-telling is the signature of humanity. And the very best stories of all come from our poets. John Edward Masefield was a consummate story-teller. Born in Ledbury in Herefordshire, England on June 1, 1878, he lost his parents at an early age and endured an unhappy education at the King’s School in Warwick. He escaped to the sea on board the HMS Conway for two reasons, the first one being to train for a life at sea. His second reason was more unusual: to break

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00:02:16

Sarah’s Gift

Rebecca"s Reading Room ·

2024/12/21

S4 E14: Sarah’s GiftChristmas is a time of gift giving, a moment when we cherish the bonds we share with one another. The gifts that stay fresh in my memory are those that originate from the soul, infused with genuine love and consideration. It’s not always the material items that leave a lasting impression, but the thoughtful gestures that illuminate the true spirit of the season. Several Christmases ago my sister Sarah gave me the gift of reciting the poem by Elinor Wylie, “Velvet Shoes”. Every

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