The New Yorker: Poetry cover image

The New Yorker: Poetry

Natasha Trethewey Reads Charles Wright

Jun 19, 2019
Former US Poet Laureate Natasha Tretheway and Kevin Young discuss Charles Wright's poem 'Toadstools' and Tretheway's poem 'Repentance'. They explore themes of renewal, grief, and loss, highlighting the power of poetry to express intricate emotions. Tretheway reflects on her personal journey, embracing innovation in poetic form, and delving into the complexities of nature and human experience.
37:53

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Toadstools by Charles Wright symbolizes renewal amidst loss, depicting eternal grief and unexpected moorings of bereavement.
  • Natasha Tretheway's Repentance explores repentance through Vermeer's art, reflecting on culpability and seeking forgiveness.

Deep dives

Toadstools by Charles Wright and Its Personal Connection

Toadstools by Charles Wright captures the essence of renewal intertwined with loss, symbolized through the emergence of toadstools from decay. The poem weaves a narrative of unexpected grief and moorings of loss, utilizing powerful imagery like 'someone may try to taste a taste of forever.' Natasha Tretheway relates to the poem's portrayal of eternal grief, highlighting the feeling of living with persistent bereavement.

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