Poet Jane Hirshfield on her "Unearned Luck," her Poetry and a 360-Degree Life

In this edition of "The Writing Life," poet Michael Collier speaks with poet, essayist and translator Jane Hirshfield about her work and the necessity of poetry in the world. Ms. Hirshfield begins by reading "The Poet," which she often uses as an opening poem in her readings. She acknowledges what she calls her "unearned luck" to have enough paper, light and freedom to write, while also calling awareness to those writers who lack those necessities. The pair discuss her series of poems called "Assays," in which she investigates and disassembles the meaning of words like "judgment." Ms. Hirshfield also reads "Identity," "Sky: An Assay," "Like an Ant Carrying her Bits of Leaf or Sand" and "Tree." Poetry, Hirshfield concludes, "instructs me in the possibility of fully agreeing to a 360-degree life."