The New Yorker: Poetry Tracy K. Smith Reads Kevin Young
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Jan 25, 2014 Tracy K. Smith reads Kevin Young's poem 'Crowning', discussing themes of childbirth and wisdom. They explore the poem's ties to drummer Levon Helm, imagery's role in creative expression, and the importance of factual accuracy in poetry with poetic license.
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Smith's First Impression of "Crowning"
- Tracy K. Smith, recalling her first encounter with Kevin Young's "Crowning", describes feeling like she'd found an accurate depiction of childbirth.
- Although she hadn't experienced it yet, she found it beautiful and otherworldly.
Male Perspectives on Childbirth in Poetry
- Paul Muldoon notes the scarcity of poems by men about childbirth, contrasting it with the prevalence of women's perspectives.
- He connects this to cultural norms, referencing the John Wayne era, where childbirth was often offscreen.
Muldoon's Childbirth Anecdote
- Paul Muldoon shares an anecdote about being asked to cut the umbilical cord at his child's birth.
- He declined, asserting it was the doctor's job.