
Chris Barton and Peter Gizzi
From The Beat by Knox County Public Library
September 9, 2025 · 9 min · Season 5 · Episode 5
About this episode
This episode features a discussion with poets Chris Barton and Peter Gizzi about their works and contributions to contemporary poetry.
Chris Barton is the author of the poetry chapbook A Finely Calibrated Apocalypse, published by Bottlecap Press in 2024. His writing has appeared in Epiphany, Peach Magazine, The Plenitudes, Hotel, and elsewhere. From 2016 to 2019, he co-hosted the Electric Pheasant Poetry in Knoxville, TN. Peter Gizzi grew up in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. His many books of poetry include Artificial Heart, Threshold Songs, In Defense of Nothing: Selected Poems, 1987–2011 and Archeophonics, which was a finalist for the National Book Award. His book Fierce Elegy, published in 2023, won the T. S. Eliot Prize. He teaches at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. “In Defense of Nothing” from In Defense of Nothing: Selected Poems, 1987–2011 © 2015 by Peter Gizzi. Published by Wesleyan University Press. Used by permission. Links: Read "our free trial lives," "last supper," and "the bafflement" by Chris Barton Read "In Defense of Nothing" by Peter Gizzi Chris Barton A Finely Calibrated Apocalypse by Chris Barton (Bottlecap Press) "2 Poems by Chris Barton" in Peach Magazine "Ouroboros as a Treat" in The Plentitudes "Three Poems" in Potluck Magazine Peter Gizzi Bio and poems at The Poetry…
People in this episode
Host: Knox County Public Library
Guests: Chris Barton, Peter Gizzi
Topics covered
- poetry
- literature
- author interviews
- creative writing
- poetic works
Keywords
- Chris Barton
- Peter Gizzi
- poetry
- A Finely Calibrated Apocalypse
- Fierce Elegy
- literature
- poetic works
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Bottlecap Press, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Wesleyan University Press
Books & works: A Finely Calibrated Apocalypse, Artificial Heart, Threshold Songs, In Defense of Nothing: Selected Poems, 1987–2011, Archeophonics, Fierce Elegy
Places: Knoxville, TN, Massachusetts
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