Poets on Why We Need Poetry Now

KQED's Forum

KQED

News Commentary, News, Politics

4.2 • 727 Ratings

🗓️ 4 April 2023

⏱️ 56 minutes

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Summary

When he was named San Francisco Poet Laureate in 2021, Tongo Eisen Martin said, “I want to push even further into places where poetry has not yet permeated.” He’s taken poetry to youth in homeless shelters, group homes and psych wards. Using poetry as a means to bring power, beauty and truth to more people is a goal that unites several poets and poet laureates joining Forum to mark the beginning of National Poetry Month. Forum wants to celebrate your favorite contemporary poets and find out how poetry shows up in your life. Join us for a conversation with poets about poetry. Guests: Tongo Eisen-Martin , San Francisco Poet Laureate Dr. Ayodele Nzinga, Artistic Director, The Lower Bottom Playaz - artist, activist and Poet Laureate of Oakland Marcelo Hernandez Castillo, poet and author of the poetry collection, "Cenzontle" and the memoir, "Children of the Land" Leticia del Toro, poet and educator - recently released the collection of poems, “All We Are Told Not to Touch” Lee Herrick , Poet Laureate of California Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:51.3	Music Very. From KQED. From KQED. From KQED in San Francisco, I'm Alexis Madrigal. There is some news happening today.
0:54.5	Maybe poetry is not at the top of your mind.
0:57.3	But as William Carlos Williams once wrote,
0:59.9	it is difficult to get the news from poems,
1:02.5	yet men die miserably every day for lack of what is found there.
1:06.5	And today, we've got a crew of poets with us this morning
1:09.5	to celebrate the beginning of National
1:11.1	Poetry Month and to talk about all that is found in their work.
1:15.3	They're part of a generation of California poets that engages with this living world's realities
1:20.1	and wants to push even further into places where poetry has not yet permeated.
1:24.6	As San Francisco Poet Laureate,ongo Eisen Martin laid out his goal.
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