Poetry is the kind of art that makes you slow down and pay attention. And we can’t imagine a better guide than Tracy K. Smith. Tracy is a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and the current U.S. Poet Laureate. She is the author of Wade in the Water, her most recent book of poems. She hosts The Slowdown podcast, which is all about seeing the world through poetry. And she is the editor of American Journal: 50 Poems for Our Time. We listen to Lia Purpura read her poem "Proximities." Plus, Aminatou and Ann share the poets and collections they're (re)discovering this year.

Reading list:

Wade in the Water by Tracy K. Smith

The Slowdown podcast

American Journal: 50 Poems for Our Time

"Proximities" by Lia Purpura

Pome, a poem-a-day email

Nikki Giovanni

June Jordan

Audre Lorde

Morgan Parker

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