Layli Long Soldier, an acclaimed poet and recipient of the Lannan Fellowship, discusses her impactful work stemming from a U.S. Congress resolution on Native histories. She emphasizes the importance of acknowledging grief and trauma through poetry. The conversation also touches on the significance of authenticity, especially in emotional expressions within families. Observing her child's journey highlights the power of vulnerability, illustrating how words can bridge the gap between internal struggles and external acknowledgment.

Layli Long Soldier, a poet and author, discusses her transformation during pregnancy, finding relaxation and deep focus, embracing uncertainty in the creative process, and the concept of abundance. They also explore personal limits and prioritizing happiness over societal success.

Layli Long Soldier is a writer, a mother, a citizen of the United States, and a citizen of the Oglala Lakota Nation. She has a way of opening up this part of her life, and of American life, to inspire self-searching and tenderness. Her award-winning first book of poetry, WHEREAS, is a response to the U.S. government’s official apology to Native peoples in 2009, which was done so quietly, with no ceremony, that it was practically a secret. Layli Long Soldier offers entry points for us all — to events that are not merely about the past, and to the freedom real apologies might bring.Layli Long Soldier is the author of WHEREAS, a winner of multiple awards including the Whiting Award, and a finalist for the National Book Award. She is the recipient of a 2015 Lannan Fellowship for Poetry and a 2015 National Artist Fellowship from the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.Find the transcript for this show at onbeing.org.This show originally aired March 30, 2017.

Layli Long Soldier is a writer, a mother, a citizen of the United States, and a citizen of the Oglala Lakota Nation. She has a way of opening up this part of her life, and of American life, to inspire self-searching and tenderness. Her award-winning first book of poetry, WHEREAS, is a response to the U.S. government’s official apology to Native peoples in 2009, which was done so quietly, with no ceremony, that it was practically a secret. Layli Long Soldier offers entry points for us all — to events that are not merely about the past, and to the freedom real apologies might bring.Layli Long Soldier is the author of WHEREAS, a winner of multiple awards including the Whiting Award, and a finalist for the National Book Award. She is the recipient of a 2015 Lannan Fellowship for Poetry and a 2015 National Artist Fellowship from the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.This interview is edited and produced with music and other features in the On Being episode "Layli Long Soldier — The Freedom of Real Apologies ." Find the transcript for that show at onbeing.org.This show originally aired March 30, 2017.

In this trailer, prominent poets Lucille Clifton, James Wright, Natasha Trethewey, Christian Wiman, and Layli Long Soldier give us a taste of the season's themes. They explore the transformative power of poetry in daily life, emphasizing its ability to foster compassion and connection. Each poet shares unique insights into their craft—highlighting memory, Indigenous identity, and the intersection of faith and literature. Expect a rich journey through influential voices and evocative themes that promise to inspire and uplift.