What happens when attention becomes a sacred act? In this Poetry Vessel episode, Nathan sits down with his brother Alex Hassell to explore vulnerability, masks, therapy, dissociation, faith, and the creative life. We share an excerpt from Ted Hughes’ “Crow Tyrannosaurus,” reflect on Richard Hugo’s The Triggering Town, and wrestle with Kathleen Raine on materialism vs. love in art. This is a conversation about presence, healing in darkness, and the courage to say something new.👉 TRY OUR FREE 7-DAY POETRY CHALLENGE:https://www.nathanhassall.com/freechallenge7 📚 RECOMMENDED READING:- "Crow" by Ted Hughes - https://amzn.to/472IeUb- "The Underlying Order and Other Essays" by Kathleen Raine - https://amzn.to/3KJ9Y93- "The Triggering Town" by Richard Hugo - https://amzn.to/42CdmsB- Other Recommended Reading — https://shorturl.at/SOYRP🎯 FOLLOW FOR MORE:👉 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nathanhassall📸 Nathan's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanhassallpoetry/🌀 The Poetry Vessel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepoetryvessel📧 Business inquiries: thepoetryvessel@gmail.com🎥 THE FILM GEAR WE USE: https://shorturl.at/j9MTW🙏 ONLINE TIP JAR: https://www.nathanhassall.com/support-our-journey TIMESTAMPS:00:00 — Attention as a Sacred Act (poetry & presence)00:49 — Welcome to The Poetry Vessel (show intro)01:32 — Guest Intro: Alex Hassell02:51 — Mental Health Work, Symbolism & Poetry06:17 — Framing the Poem: Ted Hughes’ Crow06:46 — Reading: “Crow Tyrannosaurus” by Ted Hughes07:39 — Instinct vs. Light: Why This Poem Resonates14:42 — Attention, Presence, and the Therapeutic Space17:28 — Richard Hugo’s “Triggering Town” & Deepening the Subject19:50 — Kathleen Raine: Materialism vs. Love in Art24:41 — Dissociation Story & “After the Storm” (catharsis)28:34 — Healing in Darkness & The Tower (tarot)35:41 — Body Language as Dance: Being Heard & Understood44:38 — Masks in Therapy & the Poplar Tree Metaphor48:27 — Turning to Christianity: Conscience, Solitude vs. Loneliness58:37 — Church Cliché vs. Living Ritual: Seeking Poetic Resonance1:07:13 — Dogma, Rhetoric, and the Good/True/Beautiful in Poetry1:16:26 — Original Poem: “Last Days Before the Wake” + Outro—FTC DISCLAIMER:Some of the links above may be affiliate links, which means that if you click on them I may receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The commission is paid by the retailers, at no cost to you, and this helps to support our channel and keep our videos free. Thank you!PODCAST DISCLAIMER:The views, opinions, discussions, and statements expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and are intended to represent their personal opinions and perspectives. All photos and images have been included with the permission of the guest and anonymous clients. This podcast is an opinion-driven program, and all statements and discussions are made with the understanding that they are subjective and may not reflect objective facts or truths. Listener discretion is advised. The Poetry Vessel is not responsible for the accuracy or reliability of any information presented and disclaims any liability arising from the use of or reliance on any information presented in this podcast.#poetlaureate #howtowritepoetry #whatpoetryis #poetrywriting #poetsofyoutube