The New Yorker: Poetry Bruce Smith Reads Mary Ruefle
Sep 30, 2025
Bruce Smith, a celebrated poet and professor at Syracuse University, joins to explore the profound themes in Mary Ruefle's "Open Letter to My Ancestors." He delves into the poem's blend of domestic mysticism and the dynamics of intimacy and distance in open letters. Later, Smith reflects on his own poem, "The Game," inspired by a trip to a baseball game, discussing the parallels between artistry and athletics. The conversation touches on failure, masculinity, ritual, and the timelessness of baseball, enriched by Smith's upcoming collection, "Hungry Ghost."
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Open Letter Bridges Past And Present
- Mary Ruefle's poem fuses intimacy and distance by using the open-letter form to address ancestors directly.
- Bruce Smith highlights her use of surprise, domestic mysticism, and dislocation to create emotional leaps.
Surprise Drives Poetic Transformation
- Ruefle uses surprise and comic domestic detail to move the poem toward deeper mystery and transformation.
- Smith emphasizes bewilderment and delight as engines of poetic transformation.
Ritual And Humor Open Serious Questions
- Poetic ritual and humor let Ruefle approach grave questions like survival and lineage indirectly.
- Kevin Young notes ritual masks and humor guide readers to serious reflections about ancestry.
