About this episode
Were you born during a time when laws were different? What impact did those laws have on you?
In this poem, Natasha Trethewey recalls the story of how her parents crossed state lines to wed because Mississippi forbade interracial marriage at the time. It is written in the form of a ghazal, with birth and belonging, names and death coming together.
Natasha Trethewey served as U.S. Poet Laureate from 2012-2014. She is the author of a memoir, Memorial Drive, and five collections of poetry including Monument and Native Guard, for which she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize.
Find the transcript for this show at onbeing.org.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Get every episode summarized
Each time Poetry Unbound publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from Poetry Unbound
Poetry Unbound in Conversation — Haleh Liza Gafori
Poetry Unbound
Poetry Unbound in Conversation — Adrian Matejka
Poetry Unbound
Poetry Unbound in Conversation — Karen Leeder
Poetry Unbound
Poetry Unbound in Conversation — Richard Scott
Poetry Unbound