Tracy K. Smith - Wade in the Water
Event Details
“There’s a deep and interesting kind of troubling that poems do, which is to say: ‘This is what you think you’re certain of, and I’m going to show you how that’s not enough. There’s something more that might be even more rewarding if you’re willing to let go of what you already know,’”
Tracy K. Smith
Tracy K. Smith was the Poet Laureate of the United States from 2017 to 2019. Wade in the Water, the title poem from her fourth collection, is written for the Geechee Gullah Ring Shouters, a group in Georgia who preserve their history through song and dance. Reading this dedication will be, for most people, the first time we’ve heard of the Geechee Gullah culture, inspiring us to find out more. Wade in the Water is also the title of a song associated with the Underground Railroad. The poem begins with a greeting, then builds in intensity as the voices of the present and the past are combined in an act of honouring and remembrance.
Although Wade in the Water is complex and layered, its emotional power is apparent from the first reading, particularly when it is read aloud. There is a lot to explore here – through repeated readings and discussion to unpack the meaning of this remarkable poem.
JOINING DETAILS:
- Facilitated by Caroline Hammond
- Single meeting study, Wednesday 6 March 2024, 6.00-8.00 pm (UK)
- £30 includes background materials and opening notes
- Wade in the Water can be read on the Poetry Foundation website as well as in Tracy K. Smith’s collection of the same name (ISBN-13 : 978-1555978136)
