Poetry in Perilous Times: A Reading with Tracy K. Smith

In her latest book, former U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith argues that poetry is rooted in fundamentally human qualities innate to our capacities to love, dream, question and engage across diverse cultures and backgrounds. By reimaging and reexamining the age-old art form, Fear Less is a warm invitation to find meaning, consolation and hope through poetry. A Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, memoirist, editor and translator, Smith is the author of eight books and served as the U.S. Poet Laureate from 2017-19, during which time she spearheaded American Conversations: Celebrating Poetry in Rural Communities with the Library of Congress and created The Slowdown podcast.