Nothing But The Film Poem – Episode 2

Lights! Camera! Action!Poetry!

This is the second episode of Nothing But The Film Poem podcast from the Scottish Poetry Library, which is released into the wild 3 times per year. In this episode Sam Tongue from the SPL chats with poetry filmmaker Steve Smart about 3 poetry films that caught their attention.

Poetry films featured in this show

i carry your heart with me by e.e.cummings, film by Kapou Opa

Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-PAYrroWQU&t=90s

Also brief notes at https://theinstitute.info/review-awards-international-video-poetry-festival-2025/ (search for “Kapou Opa” on page)

The Big Push by John Glenday, film by Laurie Harris and Xin Li

Poem, notes and video at https://poems.poetrysociety.org.uk/poems/the-big-push/

Video alone at https://vimeo.com/170790586

The Lake Isle of Innisfree by William Butler Yeats, film by Don Carey

Video at https://vimeo.com/105003356 (best animation: 2014 Royal Television Society awards)

Some notes at https://www.movingpoems.com/filmmaker/don-carey/

Other notes for this show

The Spoken Verse YouTube channel, featuring the voice talents of “Tom O’Bedlam” is at https://www.youtube.com/user/SpokenVerse In his channel notes, “Tom” says: “I am not looking for Voice-Over work. It’s just a hobby.” (!!)

About the C17th poem “Tom o’Bedlam” see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_o%27_Bedlam

Sir Herbert James Gunn’s painting “The Eve of the Battle of the Somme”: The Fleming Collection furthers an understanding and awareness of Scottish art and creativity through exhibitions, events, publishing and education with an emphasis placed on initiatives outside Scotland. You can see a picture of the painting, and read more about it at https://flemingcollection.com/collection/search-the-collection/the-eve-of-the-battle-of-the-somme-1916-401