Joy Harjo and Tracy K. Smith – "This world is full of everything good, everything beautiful."

The conversation explores the power and function of poetry as a tool for navigating chaos, fear, and societal divisions. Joy Harjo and Tracy K. Smith, both former US Poets Laureate, reflect on poetry's capacity to foster radical compassion and connect individuals to deeper truths. Harjo discusses poetry as a study of time and timelessness, a means of opening doorways to surprise and contradiction, while Smith views poems as pretexts for confronting internal unrest and mystery. They emphasize poetry's role in naming vulnerabilities, challenging fear-based responses, and promoting curiosity. The discussion touches on themes of collective anxiety, the importance of connecting with others, and the potential for poetry to bridge divides and foster a sense of shared humanity.