People always want to be on the right side of history; it is a lot easier to say, 'What an atrocity that was' then it is to say, 'What an atrocity this is.' Natasha Trethewey atrocityeasyhistory Change image and share on social
It is a tremendous honor to be named poet laureate, but one that I find humbling as well, because it's the kind of thing that makes me feel like - even as it's been bestowed upon me - I must continue to live up to what it means... Being the younger laureate in the age of social media is a new challenge. Natasha Trethewey agebestowchallenge share on social
The more I've gotten interested in writing about history and making sense of myself within the continuum of history, the more I've turned to paintings, to art. I look to the imagery of art to help me understand something about my own place in the world. Natasha Trethewey artcontinuumhave share on social
My father, Eric Trethewey, is a poet, so I had one right inside the house. And on long trips, he'd tell me, if I got bored in the car, to write a poem about it. And I did find that poetry was a way for me, I think as it for a lot of people, to articulate those things that seem hardest to say. Natasha Trethewey articulateborecar share on social
I've been most happy to be an advocate for the kinds of grassroots things that people are doing who care about poetry. Natasha Trethewey advocatecaregrassroots Change image and share on social
Often it seems that there are writers who are their best selves on the page. That Seamus Heaney was as genuine and deeply admirable in person as in his poems was to me a gift, then as now. Natasha Trethewey admirabledeeplygenuine Change image and share on social
'NewsHour' is very interested in poetry, but they're also interested in not just that something's cute to add on at the end of their programming, but something that actually is integrated into the news. Natasha Trethewey addcuteend share on social
Poetry's a thing that belongs to everyone. Natasha Trethewey belongpoetrything Change image and share on social
I think often people don't realize the great diversity of Southern writing because in their minds, if you're not from the South, it can seem regional and small, and of course that's not the case at all when you start to read the work. Natasha Trethewey casediversitygreat share on social
My mother and my father divorced during the time that my father was getting his Ph.D. at Tulane. Natasha Trethewey divorcefathermother Change image and share on social