Toi Derricotte, poet and co-founder of Cave Canem, discusses Tracy K. Smith's poem and her own work, touching on themes of identity, resilience, and historical burdens carried by black bodies. The conversation explores the power of poetry in conveying vast histories, shared imagery, and the significance of using metaphors to enhance narratives.
Tracy K. Smith's poem explores the complexities of identity and history through powerful imagery and dual meanings in words.
Toi Derricotte's poem delves into personal and ancestral narratives, highlighting themes of loss, beauty, and intergenerational impact.
Deep dives
Interpreting Tracy K. Smith's Poem
Toy Derracott reflects on Tracy K. Smith's poem We Feel Now, A Largeness Coming On, highlighting the powerful imagery and transformation within the verses. The concept of a 'dictionary of shame' resonates deeply as the poem navigates the complexities of identity and history, drawing attention to the dual meanings embedded in words like 'worn, born, carried, never spent.' Smith's authoritative yet intimate voice effectively conveys the weight of generational struggles and the resilience found in confronting profound adversities.
Exploring Generational Narratives
Toy Derracott delves into her own poem, I Give In to an Old Desire, unveiling layers of personal and ancestral narratives encapsulated within the lines. The poem evokes themes of loss, beauty, and the intergenerational impact of heritage, notably portraying a mother's complex history within the context of societal expectations and personal revelations. The exploration of familial silence and the power of memory enhances the richness of the poetic experience, culminating in a reflection on desire as a bold and resonant element.
Kaveh Khanum: Cultivating Poetry Communities
Derracott discusses the inception of Kaveh Khanum, a transformative workshop for Black poets aimed at nurturing creative voices within the literary realm. The origins of Kaveh Khanum, emerging from humble beginnings without financial backing, underscore the organic growth and profound impact of the poetic gathering. The collaborative and supportive environment fostered by Kaveh Khanum symbolizes a significant cultural shift, empowering Black poets to claim their narrative space and share in a collective celebration of diverse voices and experiences.
Toi Derricotte joins Kevin Youngto read “We Feel Now a Largeness Coming On,” by Tracy K. Smith, and her own poem “I give in to an old desire.” Derricotte is a poet, memoirist, and co-founder, with Cornelius Eady, of the literary organization Cave Canem. Her honors include the PEN/Voelcker Award for Poetry and the Paterson Poetry Prize for Sustained Literary Achievement; in 2020, she received the Poetry Society of America’s Frost Medal, for distinguished lifetime achievement in poetry.