Most of my creative journeys begin with an essay — a space where I explore ideas, questions, and emotions. From there, the words often grow into podcast episodes, songs, and videos, each medium adding its own voice to the story. It’s a process of transformation, where a single spark of thought can unfold into a rich, multi-layered experience.
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My latest thoughts
- The Darkling Thrush, by Thomas HardyThese are the days between Christmas and New Year, when celebration has faded, time slows, and the future has not yet begun. In this episode of Musical Poetry, we present “The Darkling Thrush” by Thomas Hardy. Written at the very end of 1900 and first published in 1901, the poem… Read more: The Darkling Thrush, by Thomas Hardy
- Declare it now, war is over!This war continues because silence continues. If you have a vote, you have a voice. Use it. Go to your elected representative. Tell them: Enough. Stop the war now.
- Dulce et Decorum EstThe bells of war are sounding louder again and yet, have they ever really stopped? In this episode of Musical Poetry, we present Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen, one of the most powerful anti-war poems ever written. Owen wrote this poem during the First World War, after witnessing… Read more: Dulce et Decorum Est
- Christina Rossetti’s – A Christmas CarolImmerse yourself in the quiet beauty of Christmas with this special episode of Musical Poetry. Today’s reading features Christina Rossetti’s beloved poem “A Christmas Carol” — better known by its opening line, “In the bleak midwinter.” Through tender words and timeless imagery, Rossetti captures the holiness of a winter night,… Read more: Christina Rossetti’s – A Christmas Carol
- A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke MooreIn this festive edition of Musical Poetry, Michael invites the ever-charming Opa Cohen to open and close the episode with his warm, storytelling voice. Together, they bring to life one of the most beloved Christmas poems of all time: “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore.Set against gentle… Read more: A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore
- Dover Beach by Matthew ArnoldToday’s poem is “Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold — a timeless piece from 1867 that speaks with quiet power about a world losing its sense of unity. Arnold, a poet and cultural critic of the Victorian era, captured the feeling of a society drifting apart long before our modern age… Read more: Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold
- Sonnet 73 – William ShakespeareIn this episode of Musical Poetry, we explore one of Shakespeare’s most intimate and contemplative works: Sonnet 73. Through images of fading autumn leaves, dying daylight, and a fire resting on its own ashes, the sonnet reflects on time, aging, and the deepening strength of love in the face of… Read more: Sonnet 73 – William Shakespeare
- The Canterbury Tales – PrologueIn this episode of Musical Poetry, we travel back to 14th-century England and step into the world of Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, one of the greatest journeys ever written in the English language. The episode begins with a brief reflection on the Prologue, a living tapestry of medieval society, where… Read more: The Canterbury Tales – Prologue
- People of the world, uniteThis poem is a call for unity in a world divided by pride, labels, and self-interest. It reminds us that all our problems — from war to hunger to environmental collapse — share one root: our separation from one another. Through vivid imagery and honest reflection, “People of the World,… Read more: People of the world, unite
- To Autumn, by John KeatsWelcome to Musical Poetry,where timeless words still breathe and whisper across the years. Autumn keeps me going — and so, we already have a new episode. But today is something new.We’re not presenting a poem born from our own creative power —today, we turn to a classic. One of the… Read more: To Autumn, by John Keats
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Michael Appelt 