The New Yorker: Poetry Traci Brimhall Reads Thomas Lux
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Nov 26, 2025 Traci Brimhall, a celebrated poet and the Poet Laureate of Kansas, joins to read and discuss works by Thomas Lux. She delves into the concept of 'refrigerator poems,' highlighting the blend of humor and vivid imagery in Lux's 'Refrigerator, 1957.' They explore the significance of everyday love versus theatrical passion in her own poem, 'Love Poem Without a Drop of Hyperbole in It.' Brimhall also shares insights on poetry's mystery, how food connects community, and the dynamics of love in long-term relationships.
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Hand-Copying Poems As Practice
- Traci Brimhall describes hand-copying beloved poems as a way to keep intimacy with language alive.
- She calls it a practice of tending coals that deepens understanding of line breaks and word choices.
Making the Ordinary Extraordinary
- Thomas Lux's "Refrigerator, 1957" uses precise verbs and repeating images to make the ordinary feel extraordinary.
- The poem's layered reds and witty comparisons create awe from domestic detail.
Revision In Real Time
- Brimhall highlights Lux's revision-in-real-time voice as a technique that draws readers into the moment.
- Repetition and incremental word choices amplify wonder and honesty in the poem.
