The Marginalian · People & society

Elizabeth Alexander on the Poet's Craft

Poet Elizabeth Alexander, known for her inaugural poem for President Obama, discusses the essence of being a poet, emphasizing the balance between passion and precision, and the role of words in connecting humanity.

Alexander defines being a poet not just as writing poems, but as being attuned to the power of precise words and believing in underlying connections, likening it to islands being connected underneath.

She states that poets, if true to their calling, possess a courage to explore complex societal and personal issues without immediate answers, bringing their findings into form for community.

The poet's work involves creating community through words and listening, while also encouraging the mind to embrace paradox.

Transformative writing, Alexander notes, can deeply affect readers, making them reconsider their views and feel more multidimensional.

She echoes James Baldwin's sentiment that talent is insufficient, highlighting discipline, love, luck, and endurance as crucial for artistic potency, drawing parallels to her own classical dance training.

Alexander views a great poem as a microcosm of how language builds worlds, whether through verses or sentences.

She advocates for precise language that embraces paradox and human complexity without false resolutions, urging that sentences should always bear truth and serve to bridge the void between people.

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