A strange conversion experience has happened to religion here in the Bible belt: once known as a key to social transformation, these days it’s more likely the mechanism of socio-political conservatism. So perhaps one of the key questions to living life well in our contemporary world is how to get troubled. Poetry, anyone? The unlikely possibility that poetry could do anything of the sort is explored by former U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith, and former NY State Poet Laureate Marie Howe, as they both claim the possibility that poetry can do a great deal of troubling of the waters, can provide a counter-spell to the hypnotizing forces of either social hostility or consumerism. 

LINKS:

Tracy K. Smith book, “Life on Mars: Poems”

Tracy K. Smith book, "Wade in the Water: Poems”

Marie Howe book, ”What the Living Do”

Marie Howe book, “Magdalene: Poems”

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