NPR's Book of the Day
Terrance Hayes' poems span history, fables and quarantine in 'So to Speak'
Aug 17, 2023
MacArthur Genius Grant and National Book Award winner Terrance Hayes discusses his new collection of poems 'So to Speak' inspired by the COVID quarantine, the 2020 protests after the killing of George Floyd, and the Jim Crow South. He reflects on writing a poem about George Floyd, talks about his love for language and bending the rules of sonnets, and explores the imagery of his mother as a clapping blackbird.
08:26
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Quick takeaways
- Terrance Hayes' writing process reflects the turbulent times he experienced, incorporating disruptions like protests and quarantine into his poems.
- Hayes explores the American sonnet form and uses it to reflect the changing nature of the United States, while balancing the desire to share personal experiences in his poetry with the hesitation to bring them up with his family.
Deep dives
Terrence Hayes' Practice of Writing
Terrence Hayes, an award-winning poet, discusses his unique practice of writing, which involves maintaining a routine while incorporating occasional disruptions. During the earliest protests after the death of George Floyd, Hayes was writing at his desk and witnessed the growing crowds through his window. He left to join the protest but returned to his desk to resume his practice. Out of this experience, he wrote a poem about George Floyd that reflects the refracting and intertwining reflections of a mirror. Hayes emphasizes that his writing process encompasses a range of emotions, including fun, grief, ecstasy, anguish, and anxiety.
