Pádraig O'Tuama

Hi friends, Padraig O'Tooma here.

Thanks very much for listening to Poetry Unbound.

In between Poetry Unbound seasons, and we have season 11 that'll start later in 2026, we have a whole host of interviews that I've done with poets over the last two years.

Poetry Unbound in conversation, we call them.

I've loved the opportunity to talk to poets about their craft, how they see the world through the lens of poetry, and what this art form does for them.

These Poetry Unbound in Conversation episodes deepened my curiosity about language and art.

I trust they will for you too.

Today you'll hear from Fadi Judah, a poet, editor and translator who will take us through two decades of his poetry, back and forth across the boundaries of memory, medicine, mythology, Palestinian identity and nationality.

He'll also read a long poem, Dedication, from his most recent collection, a collection which is often called Ellipsis, though its title is unpronounceable because it's rendered as an ellipsis, three dots on the cover of the book.

This conversation comes from the Jackson Prize reading, recorded in New York City in September of 2024.

A special thanks to Poets and Writers for hosting and organising this event, and a thanks as well to Melissa Gredell from Poets and Writers, and to the Jackson family for supporting this prize.

Of course, thank you to Fadi Jouda and his publisher, Milkweed Editions.

So welcome to Poetry Unbound, in conversation, Here I Am with Fadi Jouda.

You're all very welcome.

And Fadi Judah, congratulations on the 2024 Jackson Prize.

Well deserved.

Amongst the publications that you've done, you've published books in 2008, 2013, 14, 18, 2021, 2024.

And these are just your own books of your own compositions along the way.

As Greg mentioned, there's been translations also.

What keeps you coming and staying with poetry?