This Typewriter Rodeo poem came to us via listener request. Matthew Koontz suggested the topic “no governing, just culture wars.” This is the result.
Your Poem
There are folks out there who need to hear that they are loved and accepted. That was the simple but vital inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
It’s A Wordle World
The daily online word game trend has kept up since The New York Times purchased Wordle. For now, it’s just part of a routine for many. Will that change and is the sharing of those green and yellow boxes still annoying? That was the inspiration of this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Texas Road Trips
Record-high gas prices might mean many are scaling back on travel plans. But the warming weather and (currently) loosened pandemic concerns make a short escape to enjoy the outdoors somewhere in Texas sound awfully appealing. At least that was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Housing Prices
Home prices across Texas, and especially in some of its major cities, have risen steeply. The costs are also being passed along to those who rent. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
United
With the primaries just behind us and mask mandates continuing to lift, the rifts between us all seem very evident — Who will you support come November? Will you still wear that mask? What do you think of X, Y, or Z major issue? But looking overseas to Ukraine, we can see evidence of what it looks like when people from the same country come together despite all those other differences. What would it look like if we decided to do the same? That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Efficiency In Pharmacology
Research has been looking into the potential benefits and harms posed by psychedelic microdosing — that’s taking very small amounts of substances such as LSD or certain types of mushrooms. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Aren’t We All Winners, Really?
A text of affirmation or encouragement is often appreciated. But perhaps you are among the many who receive such texts from total strangers — or more like bots — and often with a suspicious link to claim a prize. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Sports in the Time of COVID
The Winter Olympics are going on — so is the Super Bowl. Some aspects of both of those huge sporting events look very different these days, others look exactly the same. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Them Ol’ ERCOT Blues
Texans have (so far) not experienced widespread blackouts this winter. Still, many prepared for the worst heading into Winter Storm Landon. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
A Deviant Variant Indeed
The omicron variant of COVID-19 is highly contagious and has caused a huge spike in case numbers. That was the inspiration of this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Testy? Me Too.
As the omicron variant of COVID-19 continues its rapid spread, many are desperate to confirm whether any possible symptom is an actual case. Unfortunately, getting an appointment for a test or finding a box of the at-home variety has been very difficult. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Texas Standard: January 14, 2022
School districts are buckling under the current pressures of the pandemic. The leader of a Texas teacher’s organization asks, where’s the state in all this? Some districts are shutting down others are asking parents to fill in. We want to hear from you about the current challenges for schools. Also, Governor Greg Abbott’s border enforcement program violates the constitution. That was the ruling yesterday. We’ll look at where it goes from here. And Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton must turn over records related to his time in Washington last January 6th. We’ll get into the exceptional details. Plus, going back in time to 1883 and the depiction of a family’s journey west across Texas. Our interview with one of TV’s rising stars. That and more on today’s Texas Standard:
Taking Roll
Schools are, once again, overwhelmed by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. At this current stage, some districts have shut down for days at time, others are asking parents to serve as substitute teachers. All that was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Resowhat?
It’s the time of year when many people try to reset, make ambitious goals, or aim to try something new — or not. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Winter Woes
It’s not *technically winter just yet — but we’re just over a week out from Christmas and it hardly feels like it — even for Texas! That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Out of Office Email Responder
It’s the time of year for time off. And, for anyone trying to get in touch with someone else, it’s the time of year for automatic replies. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Soup Season
Jackets may not be necessary many days in a Texas December — but a warm bowl of soup can feel welcome even when the temperatures don’t require it. That was the inspiration behind this listener request!
Typewriter Rodeo: Love
It feels like there may not be a whole lot new to say about love in poetry. But perhaps that’s exactly why humans can’t stop writing about it? Texas Standard listener Michael Abild requested this poem about “the creative and sustaining nature of love.”
Being Present
This season of being thankful, some of us are thinking about being thankful for each moment and our ability to enjoy that moment, to savor it. Texas Standard listener Lynzy requested this poem about ridding herself of the products and systems that get in the way of her ability to be present.