Marilyn Nelson on Her Beautiful and Powerful PoetryMarilyn Nelson on Her Beautiful and Powerful Poetry
The One You Feed
Marilyn Nelson shares the inspiration behind her powerful poems and discusses the importance of silence with Eric Zimmer on 'The One You Feed'.
34:01•28 Jan 2022
Marilyn Nelson: Poetry That Resonates with Heart and Soul
“Our lives are so filled up with noise now we have to take real effort to find a place that's quiet.”
Ever felt the power of words that touch your soul? In this heartfelt episode of 'The One You Feed', host Eric Zimmer sits down with Marilyn Nelson, a celebrated American poet, translator, and children’s book author. Nelson, who is also a Professor Emeritus at the University of Connecticut and a former poet laureate of Connecticut, opens up about the inspiration behind her evocative poems and the profound impact they have on readers.
They dive into her poem 'Mississippi', a poignant tribute to Emmett Till, showcasing her unique use of the heroic crown of sonnets. But that's not all. Nelson also discusses the importance of silence in our noisy world and how it fuels creativity and self-awareness. She shares stories like that of Snook, a little dog shipwrecked on an island, which is beautifully illustrated in one of her books.
If you're someone who finds solace in poetry or enjoys deep, meaningful conversations, this episode is a must-listen. And don't miss the post-show chat where Nelson shares another one of her mesmerizing poems.

Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.
Related Episodes
Similar episodes from other shows in the catalogue.
