In this video, Naomi Shihab Nye reads, from her book Honeybee, three poems that have and continue to help her in troubled times. She begins with "Ted Kooser is my President," which she wrote during the George W. Bush administration. Poet and author Ted Kooser represented a hopeful voice for Naomi during this time. She follows with, "My President Went," which describes a recreational quail hunting trip that George W. Bush took over the holidays, while at the same time, hundreds of Iraqis were dying as a result of the Iraq war. Naomi finishes with "Consolation," addressing the sad state of world events. Finally, within this movement, Naomi discusses the importance of finding a "hinge," or detailed moment that provides a focal point for writing. She emphasizes the place of poetry-it doesn't need to solve, but it can act as a nightlight.
Naomi shared these selections as part of a workshop at Wisdom Ways in March 2017.
