Poet Richard Blanco learns 'How to Love a Country'

Richard Blanco is the fifth presidential inaugural poet in U.S.
history—the youngest, first Latino, immigrant, and gay person to
serve in such a role. In this interview, he speaks with former
Boston Poet Laureate Danielle Legros Georges during a visit at
Lesley University.


Born in Madrid to Cuban exile parents and raised in Miami, the
negotiation of cultural identity and place characterize Richard's
body of work. He is the author of the poetry collections Looking
for the Gulf Motel, Directions to the Beach of the Dead, and City
of a Hundred Fires; the poetry chapbook Boston Strong and more.
His latest book of poems, How to Love a Country (Beacon Press,
2019), both interrogates the American narrative, past and
present, and celebrates the still unkept promise of its ideals.
He has also authored the memoirs The Prince of Los Cocuyos: A
Miami Childhood and For All of Us, One Today: An Inaugural Poet’s
Journey.


Find links to Richard Blanco's lecture at Lesley University and
more on our podcast page.