Bruce Smith

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."