The River Beneath The River by the Late Lyn Lifshin

arts, books · EN

In this episode of The River Beneath the River drama series, Boh and Rhea dive into the extraordinary life of Lyn Lifshin, the “Queen of the Small Presses.” Through conversation and dramatic narration, they explore her relentless drive to write, her obsessions with houses, tango, racehorses, and Marilyn Monroe, and the way she reshaped American poetry outside the academy. Listeners will hear how Lifshin’s Vermont childhood, her complex family dynamics, and her fearless independence fueled a body of work spanning more than five decades. Boh and Rhea reflect on her legacy, her uncompromising voice, and what it means to live as if writing were a biological necessity. This episode is both a tribute and a discovery—an invitation to step into the river of words that Lyn Lifshin never stopped sending into the world.