Tracy K. Smith, pulitzer prize winning author of Life on Mars among other poetry collections, spoke with National Public Radio in an interview broadcast today about her appointment as Poetry Laureate of the U.S. (And, officially, consultant in poetry to the Library of Congress.) I remember living in D.C. in the mid-1990s, and readings or lectures featuring the poet laureate (I distinctly remember Rita Dove in particular) were always a highlight of D.C.'s literary calendar.
I was struck by somethings Smith said in her NPR interview about the role of poetry in a country facing times of division and dissension. Poetry is not just a vehicle to describe our own feelings, but also those of others -- serving as a vehicle to transport empathy. As such, she views poetry as something that becomes more essential in times of turmoil.
"The things that poems encourage us to acknowledge are more vital during times when we're up in arms about where we are going as a nation or where we're going as citizens," she told NPR.
I think Smith, whose work does not flinch from political and cultural hot spots, is an excellent choice for the laureateship. And I hope she will succeed in helping expand the audience of people who listen to poetry across the country.
