CZM Book Club: Selected Poems of Voltairine de Cleyre

This episode of 'It Could Happen Here' features a deep dive into the poetry of Voltarine de Cleyre, a radical 19th-century anarchist feminist whose life was shaped by the Haymarket Affair and her commitment to free thought, women's liberation, and anti-authoritarianism. Host Margaret Kiljoy reads several of de Cleyre's powerful poems, including 'The Hurricane We Are Birds of the Coming Storm,' 'At the Grave in Waldheim,' and 'Written in Red,' highlighting themes of revolution, martyrdom, systemic violence, and resistance. The episode blends literary analysis with historical context, emphasizing de Cleyre's legacy as a 'Pearl of Anarchy' and her enduring influence on anarchist thought. Kiljoy also announces a new interactive book club experiment, inviting listeners to read Ursula K. Le Guin’s 'The Ones Who Walked Away from Omelas' and 'The Day Before the Revolution' and contribute their reflections via Reddit, aiming to foster community-driven discussion. The episode closes with a mix of promotional content for other iHeartMedia podcasts, including 'The Girlfriends,' 'Love Trapped,' and 'Math & Magic,' underscoring the interconnectedness of storytelling, justice, and collective action.