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>> HER WORKS SHINE A LIGHT ON
WHAT SOME MIGHT CONSIDER THE
ORDINARY IN LIFE.
BUT IN HER EYES, THE ORDINARY IS
EXTRAORDINARY.
A CONVERSATION WITH POET,
NOVELIST, AND ESSAYIST, NAOMI
SHIHAB NYE, NEXT ON "DIALOGUE."
STAY TUNED.
>> WELCOME TO "DIALOGUE."
I'M MARCIA FRANKLIN.
>>> EVER SINCE SHE COULD
UNDERSTAND WORDS, MY GUEST
WANTED TO PLAY WITH THEM.
NAOMI SHIHAB NYE HAS BEEN
WRITING POEMS AND GETTING THEM
PUBLISHED SINCE SHE WAS IN
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
IN HER ADULT LIFE, SHE'S PENNED
OR EDITED MORE THAN 30 WORKS OF
POETRY, ESSAYS AND FICTION.
SHE'S KNOWN FOR HER ABILITY TO
ELEVATE SEEMINGLY COMMON
OBJECTS, EVENTS, AND PEOPLE.
AS ONE REVIEWER PUT IT, SHE
OFTEN PULLS GOLD FROM THE
ORDINARY.
MUCH OF HER WORK IS INFORMED BY
HER CULTURAL HERITAGE.
HER FATHER WAS A PALESTINIAN
REFUGEE.
HER COLLECTIONS OF POETRY
INCLUDE "RED SUITCASE," "WORDS
UNDER THE WORDS,," "FUEL," "YOU
AND YOURS," AND "19 VARITIES OF
GAZELLE: POEMS OF THE MIDDLE
EAST" WHICH WAS A FINALIST FOR
THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD.
NYE IS ALSO THE AUTHOR OF THE
CHILDREN'S BOOK "SITTI'S
SECRETS," AND THE YOUNG ADULT
NOVEL "HABIBI," BOTH OF WHICH
DRAW ON VISITS SHE MADE TO SEE
HER PALESTINIAN GRANDMOTHER IN
THE WEST BANK.
I TALKED WITH NYE AT THE SUN
VALLEY WRITERS' CONFERENCE.
FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS THE
CONFERENCE HAS BEEN BRINGING
TOGETHER AUTHORS AND ARTISTS TO
SHARE THEIR WORK.
I BEGAN BY ASKING HER TO EXPLAIN
HOW SHE STARTED WRITING.
YOU HAVE WRITTEN SINCE YOU COULD
WRITE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> SINCE YOU WERE ABOUT 6?
>> SINCE I WAS 6.
I WANTED TO WRITE.
I FELL IN LOVE WITH POETRY
BEFORE I COULD WRITE.
I WAS ONE OF THE LUCKY CHILDREN
WHO HAD PEOPLE READING TO THEM
AS A CHILD, AND HEARING EMILY
DICKINSON BEFORE I COULD READ
FOR MYSELF WAS VERY
TRANSPORTING, OR CARL SANDBERG,
SOME OF THE VOICES THAT CARRIED
ME AWAY, ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON,
I LOVED HIM.
AND SO ONCE I LEARN TO WRITE,
THAT SORT OF PERIOD IN FIRST
GRADE WHEN YOU'RE IN THE CAT,
HAT, IT SHOULD BE THE MOST
ECSTATIC MOMENT OF YOUR LIFE,
BUT I REMEMBER BEING STUCK WITH
MAKING AN AND, MANY MORE TIMES
THAN I WANTED TO, THE.
I STARTED WRITING POEMS IN THE
MARGINS THE MINUTE I COULD EVEN
WRITE A WORD.
I KNEW IT WAS WHAT I NEEDED TO
DO.
>> YOU HAVE A GREAT POEM THAT
EXPRESSES HOW YOU STARTED.
>> PLEASE DESCRIBE HOW YOU
BECAME A WRITER.
POSSIBLY I BEGAN WRITING AS A
REFUGE FROM OUR INSULTING FIRST
GRADE TEXTBOOK.
COME, JANE, COME.
LOOK, ***, LOOK.
WERE THERE EVER DULLER PEOPLE IN
THE WORLD?
YOU HAD TO TELL THEM TO LOOK AT
THINGS?
WHY WEREN'T THEY LOOKING TO
BEGIN WITH?
I THINK IT WAS SOME SORT OF
SPINOFF OF THAT THAT CAUSED ME
TO IMMEDIATELY BEGIN WRITING
POEMS ON MY ADDITION PAGE, ONE
PLUS ONE EQUALS TWO, AND DOWN
HERE, I START WRITING A POEM
ABOUT BEING ON A TRAIN IN
CHICAGO OR SOMETHING.
MY CAT -- JUST AM LITTLE THINGS
STARTED COMING ONTO MY PAGE AS
SOON AS I HAD A PAGE.
>> AND YOU STARTED PUBLISHING.
>> I DID.
I WAS AN EARLY PUBLISHER, AND I
AM VERY GRATEFUL TO LIBRARIANS
WHO I THINK ARE ALWAYS REDDIER
TO HELP US THAN -- READIER TO
HELP US THAN WE MIGHT KNOW.
I ALWAYS URGE KIDS, TALK TO A
LIBRARIAN.
IF YOU'RE LOST ON AN ASSIGNMENT,
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIND
SOMETHING, AND I'M STILL ONE OF
THE OLD FASHIONED BELIEVERS IN
GOING TO THE SHELVES AND
EXPLORING AND FINDING A BOOK
YOU'VE NEVER HEARD AND ALLOWING
TO IT CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
DON'T JUST GO LOOKING FOR THE
BOOK YOU'VE READ ABOUT ON THE
INTERNET.
THE INTERNET IS AMAZING.
I LEAVE IT.
BUT I STILL THINK WE SHOULD HAVE
THAT ONE-ON-ONE THAN COUNTER
WITH THAT.
>> OR SEEING THE BOOK RIGHT NEXT
TO THE ONE YOU WENT FOR.
>> SEEING THE BOOK YOU THOUGHT
YOU WANTED AND FINDING THE BOOK
NEXT TO IT THAT CHANGES YOUR
LIFE.
SO EARLY ON IT WAS LIBRARIANS
WHO SAID TO ME, IF YOU LIKE TO
READ SO MUCH AND YOU SEEM ALWAYS
TO BE WRITING OVER THERE AT THAT
TABLE, YOU MIGHT WANT TO SEND
SOME OF YOUR WORK OUT TOO.
I REMEMBER SAYING, I COULD?
HOW WOULD I DO THAT?
THE LIBRARIAN PAINSTAKINGLY
TELLING ME THE PROCESS, HERE'S
THE ADDRESS, AND A MAGAZINE,
ALWAYS INCLUDE A SELF-ADDRESSED
ENVELOPE.
AT THE AGE OF 7 I BEGAN SENDING
THINGS OUT.
DID NOT TELL MY PARENTS.
MY MOTHER WAS VERY CONCERNED
WHEN SHE SAW LETTERS ARRIVING IN
THE MAILBOX ADDRESSED TO ME IN
MY OWN HANDWRITING.
SHE THOUGHT I WAS HAVING SOME
KIND OF PSYCHIC EXPERIENCE OR
BREAK WHERE I WAS NOW WRITING TO
MYSELF IN THE MAIL.
I SAID, NO, NO, THAT'S SOME OF
MY WORK I'VE SENT TO A MAGAZINE.
I REMEMBER SHE WAS SHOCKED.
WHAT?
BUT AFTER MAYBE SENDING OUT 10
DIFFERENT ENVELOPES, ONE OF MY
POEMS WAS ACCEPTED FOR A
MAGAZINE, AND IT JUST WENT ON
FROM THERE.
TO THIS DAY I'VE NEVER HAD A
PUBLISHING AGENT.
>> ONE OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS
YOU HAVE DONE IS THAT YOU HAVE
HELPED YOUNG PEOPLE PUBLISH
THEIR OWN WORK IN ANTHOLOGY,
YOU'VE KEPT THAT GOING.
TO SEE THEIR OWN POEM IN PRINT
MUST BE EXTREMELY POWERFUL.
>> IT'S AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE
TONIGHT EDITOR OF AN ANTHOLOGY,
BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE FULL
SELECTION OF YOURS, BUT TO BE
ABLE TO TELL SOMEONE ELSE THAT
YOU'VE SELECTED ONE OF THEIR
PIECES FOR A BOOK AND THEN TO
HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT
IS JUST A REMARKABLE EXPERIENCE.
>> HOW HAVE WE GOTTEN TO THE
POINT, I'M SURE YOU HEAR, I'M
NOT A POETRY PERSON, BUT I LIKE
X, X, X, OR, I DON'T UNDERSTAND
POETRY, OR, IT'S TOO DIFFICULT
FOR ME.
YET THESE CHILDREN ARE WRITING
POEMS.
WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN THE CHILD
AND THE ADULT WHERE PEOPLE SEEM
TO STRAY AWAY FROM POETRY?
>> I LOVE THE ANSWER WILLIAM
STARVETIOND ONE OF MY FAVORITE
POETS USED TO GIVE WHEN PEOPLE
WOULD SAY, WHEN DID YOU BECOME A
POTATO?
HE'D SAY, THE QUESTION IS WHEN
DID YOU STOP BEING POET?
ALL LITTLE CHILDREN ARE POETS.
IF YOU LISTEN TO THE ELASTIC
WAYS THEY EXPERIMENT WITH
LANGUAGE AND PUT WORDS TOGETHER
AND MAKE METAPHORS WITHOUT ANY
EMBARRASSMENT YOU WILL SEE THEY
ARE OPERATING IN A REALM OF
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE ALL THE
TIME.
SO POETS JUST TRY TO DEVELOP
HABITS THAT WILL ALLOW US TO
KEEP DOING THAT.
AFTER LANGUAGE BECOMES MORE
ROUTINE OR RATIONAL, AND YES, I
DO HEAR THOSE COMMENTS.
I HEARD IT 25 TIMES TODAY
ALREADY, PEOPLE WHO SAID, I
ALMOST DIDN'T COME TO YOUR
READING BECAUSE IT WAS POETRY.
BUT I'M GLAD I DID BECAUSE IT
INVITED ME IN.
I UNDERSTOOD YOUR WORK.
AND I'VE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED
IN POEMS THAT ARE EASILY
ACCESSIBLE TO MANY PEOPLE.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN SIMPLISTIC, IT
DOESN'T MEAN STUPID, IT MEANS
JUST WELCOMING.
BEFRIENDING.
POEMS THAT WANT TO BE FRIENDS TO
MANY AGES, MANY PEOPLE.
I LOOK FOR A SIMILAR KIND OF
WORK WRITTEN BY STUDENTS OF ANY
AGE.
>> I'VE HEARD YOU SAY THAT
WRITING POEMS IS LIKE LIVING
LIFE TWICE.
BECAUSE YOU -- YOU'RE RELIVING,
YOU'RE SEEING, REALLY TRULY
SEEING WHEN YOU WRITE DOWN WHAT
ARE SEEMINGLY MUNDANE THINGS.
A FIG, AN OLIVE, SOME CLOTHES ON
A LINE.
>> RIGHT.
>> THAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOUR
POETRY, IS IT NOT?
>> VERY IMPORTANT.
AND THOSE LITTLE THINGS, THEY
CARRY US AWAY.
AND THEY CONNECT TO US ONE
ANOTHER AND THEY HAVE ALL KINDS
OF POSSIBILITIES WITHIN THEM.
I REALLY THINK SOMETIMES,
NOTHING IS ORDINARY.
THE FACT THAT WE ARE LIVING IS
SO ASTONISHING WHEN YOU THINK OF
THE DETAILS OF HOW A SINGLE
PERSON, HUMAN BEING COMES INTO
BEING.
EVEN THE FACT ANY ONE OF US
WOULD BE BORN, I COULD THINK
ABOUT THAT FOREVER.
HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?
THAT THIS PERSON WAS BORN?
AND I THINK WRITING IS SUCH A
USEFUL TOOL FOR EVERY HUMAN
BEING, BECAUSE IT HELPS US
FOCUS.
SO MUCH HAPPENS TO US, WITHIN
US, AROUND US EVERY DAY, TRULY
HARD TO THINK DEEPLY ABOUT ALL
OF IT.
YOU HAVE TO DEVELOP A LITTLE BIT
OF A CAVALIER ATTITUDE.
I WILL WALK ACROSS THE STREET IN
SUN VALLEY WITHOUT PAYING
ATTENTION TO EVERY LITTLE PIECE
OF BEAUTY.
>> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT
THAT.
>> IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL HERE!
YOU THINK OF LOOKING DOWN AT THE
FLOIRS, THE TREES, THE AIR, AND
ANYWHERE YOU ARE THERE'S SO
MUCH.
BUT WRITING HELPS YOU FOCUS ON
WHICH THING SPEAKS TO YOU MOST
AT THIS MOMENT.
>> HELPS YOU SIFT.
>> HELPS YOU SIFT, YES.
AND HELPS YOU THINK AND HELPS
YOU MAKE, NO I HEARD DURING THE
SUN VALLEY WRITERS' CONFERENCE
THIS WEEKEND, SO MANY REFERENCES
TO LINKAGE.
YOU CONNECT THIS THING AND THAT
THING.
SO MANY WRITERS DOING IT IN SO
MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
BUT ALWAYS LINKAGE IS ONE OF THE
CRITICAL ELEMENTS.
>> I'D LOVE IT IF YOU WOULD READ
A POEM CALLED "FAMOUS" WHICH I
THINK SHOWS IN A VERY SIMPLE BUT
BEAUTIFUL WAY THE ATTENTION YOU
PUT ON SEEMINGLY MUNDANE THINGS.
>> I WROTE THIS POEM IN RESPONSE
TO CHILDREN'S QUESTIONS TO ME
WHEN I WOULD ENTER TO BE THEIR
SPEAKER FOR A WHILE.
ARE YOU FAMOUS?
ARE YOU FAY NEWS OF COURSE I
WOULD WANT TO SAY NO, I'M YOUR
NEIGHBOR, I LIVE DOWN THE
STREET.
BUT THEN I REALIZED TO THEM IF
YOU SAID YES, IT MEANT THEY
WOULD PAY A DIFFERENT KIND OF
ATTENTION.
SO I FELT I CAN'T ANSWER THE
QUESTION DIRECTLY, I HAVE TO
COME UP WITH A SNEAKY WAY TO
ANSWER IT.
THE RIVER IS FAMOUS FOR THE
FISH.
THE LOUD VOICE IS FAMOUS FOR
SILENCE WHICH KNEW IT WOULD
INHERIT THE EARTH BEFORE ANYBODY
ELSE SAID SO.
THE CAT SLEEPING ON THE FENCE IS
FAMOUS TO THE BIRDS WATCHING HIM
FROM THE BIRDHOUSE.
THE TEAR IS FAMOUS BRIEFLY TO
THE CHEEK.
THE IDEA YOU CARRY CLOSE TO YOUR
BOSO MEH IS FAMOUS TO YOUR
***.
THE BOOT IS FAMOUS TO THE EARTH.
MORE FAMOUS THAN THE DRESS SHOE,
WHICH IS FAMOUS ONLY TO FLOORS.
THE BENT PHOTOGRAPH IS FAMOUS TO
THE ONE WHO CARRIES IT.
NOT AT ALL FAMOUS TO THE ONE WHO
IS PICTURED.
I WANT TO BE FAMOUS, TO
SHUFFLING MEN WHO SMILE WHILE
CROSSING STREETS.
STICKY CHILDREN IN GROCERY
LINES, FAMOUS AS THE ONE WHO
SMILED BACK.
I WANT TO BE FAMOUS IN THE WAY A
PULLEY IS FAMOUS, OR A BUTTON
HOLE, NOT BECAUSE IT DID
ANYTHING SPECTACULAR, BUT
BECAUSE IT NEVER FORGOT WHAT IT
COULD DO.
I OFTEN THINK ABOUT HOW
EVERYTHING IS FAMOUS IF YOU
NOTICE IT.
WHATEVER YOUR EYE FALLS ON
TODAY, IT'S FAMOUS TO YOU.
AND WE COULD ALL WALK DOWN THE
BLOCK TOGETHER AND DIFFERENT
THINGS WOULD TAKE HOLD OF OUR
SENSES.
JUST ENCOURAGING YOUNG WRITERS
TO HAVE AN ACUTE AND TENDER SORT
OF PERCEPTION OF THAT.
IT SLOWS YOU DOWN, AND WE NEED
TO BE SLOWED DOWN IN A VERY
FAST-PACED WORLD, AND SO I THINK
POETRY IS REALLY A POWERFUL
AVENUE FOR THE KIND OF ATTENTION
IT TAKES TO HELP US GET THROUGH
OUR LIVES.
NO MATTER WHAT PATHS WE TAKE.
>> IN ADDITION TO LOOKING AT THE
WORLD AROUND YOU, DO YOU GET
IDEAS JUST FROM THE NEWS?
>> VERY MUCH FROM THE NEWS.
I AM A BIG NEWSPAPER READER.
IT'S USUALLY HOW I GET MY NEWS.
BUT SOMETIMES WATCHING
TELEVISION OR READING IT ON THE
INTERNET THESE DAYS, BUT BECAUSE
I WAS RAISED IN A FAMILY WITH A
JOURNALIST AND NEWS WAS ALWAYS
BEING TALKED ABOUT, MY FATHER
WAS A NEWSPAPER MAN, HE URGED US
TO CUT OUT HEADLINES, STORIES, A
STHEER TROUBLED US, A STORY WE
WANTED TO THINK MORE ABOUT
LATER.
THERE WERE ALL THESE SCISSORS IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE TABLE.
PILES AND BOXES AND FILES.
THINGS TAPED INTO MY NOTEBOOK.
AND I PASTED IN A STORY THIS
PAST YEAR THAT I LOVED THAT I
HAVEN'T WRITTEN ANY POEM
RELATING TO, IT'S ABOUT RATS
HAVING EMPATHY.
>> I SAW THAT.
>> I THOUGHT, THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT STORY BECAUSE IT WAS
ALSO SIDE BY SIDE WITH ALL THESE
WAR STORIES.
MAYBE HUMAN BEINGS NEED TO THINK
A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT EMPATHY.
THE RAT IS HELPING ITS FELLOW
RAT DO SOMETHING, AND HERE'S
THESE HUMAN BEINGS KILLING ONE
ANOTHER.
SO STORIES LIKE THAT, I HAVE NO
IDEA HOW THAT WOULD WORK INTO
SOMETHING, BUT I FEEL THE WORLD
AROUND EACH ONE OF US IS SO
RICH, AND WE CAN ONLY DISTILL OR
REALLY PROCESS, THINK ABOUT,
CONNECT LITTLE TINY BITS OF
INFORMATION.
WE CAN'T REALLY DO THE WHOLE
BULK OF IT.
SO POETRY IS A WAY TO ENTER INTO
SCENES AND DETAILS, AND STILL
KIND OF A FINITE HORIZON OF
EXQUISITE, HOPEFULLY SOME KIND
OF LANGUAGE THAT WILL CARRY OUR
MINDS TO AN EXQUISITE DIFFERENT
OTHER TRANSPORTED PLACE.
>> I KNOW THAT YOU'VE ALSO
ENCOURAGED YOUR STUDENTS TO
THINK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT
CAUSE YOU DISCOMFORT.
FRICTION I THINK IS THE WORD.
ARE THE THINGS FROM WHICH YOU
MIGHT MAKE ART.
AND YOU HAVE A QUOTE FROM
WILLIAM STAFFORD IN YOUR BOOK
"YOU AND YOURS" WHERE HE SAYS
WHAT YOU FEAR WILL NOT GO AWAY,
IT WILL TAKE YOU INTO YOURSELF
AND BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU.
THAT'S THE WORLD, AND WE ALL
LIVE THERE.
TO NOT BE AFRAID OF FRICTION,
TENSION, WAR.
SADNESS, PAIN.
>> TO WRITE OUT OF YOUR
DIFFICULT PLACE.
THAT IS ALWAYS BEEN A LESSON
CONVEYED BY MANY WRITERS, AND
NOT WAIT TILL THINGS ARE MORE
PERFECT, BUT WRITE OUT OF THE
TROUBLE WHEREVER IT IS.
>> ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I
NOTICE IN YOUR POEMS IS THAT
THEY DESCRIBE PARALLEL LIVES.
WHILE WE'RE LIVING SOMEBODY ELSE
IS LIVING THEIR LIFE, AND IN
PARTICULAR YOU'VE WRITTEN A LOT
ABOUT BEING A
PALESTINIAN-AMERICAN, DRAWING
ATTENTION TO THE PEOPLE IN THE
WEST BANK, PEOPLE -- ARABS ALL
OVER THE WORLD.
AND I KNOW THAT DURING THE WAR
IN IRAQ YOU HAVE SHARED THOSE
POEMS WITH STUDENTS, AND THEY
HAVE BEEN KIND OF AMAZED THAT
THERE ARE -- IT'S OPENED THEIR
EYES UP THAT THERE ARE OTHER
LITTLE KIDS IN OTHER WORLDS.
IT'S THIS PEYTON MANNING THEY
TICK QUALITY OF POETRY.
>> IT ALLOWS US TO REMEMBER THE
HEADLINES ARE NOT FULLY
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE OF
A PLACE.
A TERRIBLE HEADLINE DOES NOT
REPRESENT ALL THE CHILDREN AND
GRANDMOTHERS AND FAMILIES AND
REGULAR PEOPLE WHO GOT UP THAT
MORNING, AND JUST HAD AN
INTENTION TO LIVE A DECENT,
REGULAR LIFE, AND HOPEFULLY WORK
AND PLAY AND LEARN.
AND SO I THINK POETRY IN TIMES
WHEN HEADLINES ARE JUST FLASHING
CONSTANTLY BEFORE OUR EYES,
POETRY TAKES ANOTHER STEP OF
IMPORTANCE JUST TO KEEP
REMINDING US OF MUTUAL HUMANITY
AND SORT OF REDUCE THAT FEAR,
ANXIETY LEVEL ABOUT OTHER PLACES
IN THE WORLD, AND -- IT'S OFTEN
SO GRIEVEUS TO READ A NEWS STORY
AND THINK AS MY FATHER USED TO
SAY, WHAT PERSPECTIVE ARE WE NOT
HEARING IN THIS STORY?
WHO IS NOT BEING QUOTED?
THIS IS HOW IT MIGHT HAVE LOOKED
TO OUR REPORTER, BUT HOW DID IT
LOOK TO THE PERSON STANDING OVER
THERE ON THE OTHER BANK?
AND TO HAVE A MORE FULL BALANCED
HUMAN PERSPECTIVE.
IN THESE DAYS WHEN -- EVEN
WITHIN COMMUNITIES WE HAVE THESE
ISSUES THAT PIT US AGAINST ONE
ANOTHER, OR WITHIN STATES, RIGHT
NOW IN OUR COUNTRY WITH A LOT OF
POLITICAL TALKING AND ADVOCACY,
AND -- NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE,
IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE REMINDED OF
OTHER HUMANITY.
>> AFTER 9-11, YOU'VE WRITTEN
THAT YOU JUST FELT AS IF YOU
NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING AS A
WRITER.
I KNOW YOU WROTE A LETTER TO
WOULD-BE TERRORISTS, REACHING
OUT SAYING, PLEASE UNDERSTAND
THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT CARE,
ISRAELIS AS WELL, AND YOU WROTE
POEMS DIRECTLY ABOUT 9-11.
>> RIGHT.
>> IN AN ATTEMPT TO, WHAT,
CONNECT PEOPLE?
>> TO CONNECT PEOPLE, AND TO
HAVE JUST A SENSE OF VOICE.
BECAUSE I THINK WE WERE ALL SO
SPEECHLESS ABOUT CRUEL BEHAVIOR
WE CAN'T EVEN FATHOM, HOW PEOPLE
CAN DO SUCH THINGS TO ONE
ANOTHER.
SO IN ORDER NOT TO REMAIN
SPEECHLESS, AND FEELING MY OWN
FATHER'S PAIN ABOUT PEOPLE FROM
THE MIDDLE EAST BEING CONNECTED
TO SUCH A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY AND
CRIME, I FELT A NEED TO SPEAK IN
A PERSONAL WAY TO ANYONE WHO
WOULD EVEN THINK OF ACT, BUT
ALSO I FELT IT IMPORTANT -- OF
TERRIBLE ACT AGAINST ANY OTHER
PEOPLE ANYWHERE, I FELT IT
IMPORTANT TO WRITE IN THAT
INTIMATE LETTER STYLE, SAYING, I
KNOW WHAT YOU WOULD EAT.
I KNOW WHAT FOOD YOU LIKE.
I KNOW WHAT MUSIC YOU WOULD
LISTEN TO.
PLEASE LISTEN TO ME.
BY THE WAY, THAT PIECE WHEN I
WROTE THE LETTER, I DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO WITH IT.
SO I TRIED AN EXPERIMENT.
IT'S BENT INTERESTING BECAUSE
I'VE ONLY DONE THIS TWICE.
I SENT IT TO MAYBE FIVE FRIENDS
ON THE INTERNET AND SAID, FEEL
FREE TO SEND IT TO ANYONE YOU
LIKE.
AND I DO THINK THE TWO PIECES I
DID THAT WITH IN MY LIFE HAVE
TRAVELED FARTHER THAN ANYTHING I
EVER HAD PUBLISHED IN A BOOK OR
MAGAZINE OR PAPER.
IT'S REALLY BEEN INTERESTING.
>> TRANSLATE IN ADDITION ARABIC?
>> TRANSLATED INTO ARABIC,
CHINESE, POSTED IN A JAPANESE
BUDDHIST TEMPLE, ALL THE REPORTS
I'VE HAD BACK ABOUT WHERE PEOPLE
HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS THING.
TO THINK I DIDN'T EVEN MAKE ANY
OFFICIAL EFFORT TO PUBLISH IT,
JUST SEND IT INTO THE AIR.
WHICH WAS THE FEELING WE ALL HAD
THEN, WANTING TO SEND INTO THE
AIR OUR CAIRKS OUR ANGUISH, OUR
SORROW.
I THINK IT'S OUR JOB AS HUMAN
BEINGS TO KEEP EXTENDING OUR
EMPATHY.
OR OUR OPINIONS.
IT CONFOUND ME HOW MUCH SOME
PEOPLE LOOK FOR OTHER PEOPLE WHO
EXACTLY MATCH THEM.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT'S SO
FASCINATING.
I WAS ALWAYS MUCH MORE
FASCINATED IN SOMEONE WHO WAS A
LITTLE DIFFERENT.
WHO GREW UP IN A DIFFERENT TYPE
OF HOUSEHOLD, OR HAD OPINIONS
AND LIFE STORIES THAT I KNEW NOT
OF.
THAT'S FASCINATING.
IT'S NOT FEARSOME.
FINDING TWICE EXCHANGE THAT AND
NOT PITTING OURSELVES AGAINST
THE OTHER AS A SCARY INDIVIDUAL.
>> AFTER 9-11 YOU WROTE ABOUT
WHAT ARE -- WHAT ARE GOOD ARABS
SUPPOSED TO DO NOW?
>> RIGHT.
YEAH.
WHAT ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE -- I
FELT THAT ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE
MIDDLE EAST WERE IN SOME WAYS
VICTIMIZED OR ALL THE IMMIGRANTS
FROM MUSLIM COUNTRIES AND ARAB
COUNTRIES TO THE UNITED STATES
HAD BEEN PLACED INTO A NEW
POSITION OF SUSPICION.
HOW UNFAIR THAT WAS.
SO MANY DECENT PEOPLE LEADING
GENTLE LIVES, SUDDENLY TO BE
LOOKED AT WITH MORE CONCERN.
>> YOU WRITE VERY DIRECTLY ABOUT
THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN,
WHATEVER WE WANT TO -- WORD WE
WANT TO USE.
SITUATION.
>> PROBLEM.
STORY.
>> CRISIS.
WHEN I READ YOUR POEMS, I SENSE
ANGER, I SENSE FRUSTRATION.
BUT I ALSO SENSE HOPE, WHICH I
UNDERSTAND YOUR FATHER ALWAYS
HAD.
>> ALWAYS HAD.
NEVER GAVE UP.
>> YOUR GRANDMOTHER HAD.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND YOU STILL HAVE.
>> HAVE VERY STRONGLY.
YES, I DO.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THOSE
OF US WHO'VE KIND OF LIVED WITH
THINKING ABOUT THAT SITUATION
FOR A LONG TIME, THAT DO RETAIN
HOPE, TO KEEP VOICING IT.
BECAUSE IF PEOPLE ONLY READ
HEADLINES SOMETIMES, YOU MIGHT
IMAGINE THAT ALL THE CITIZENS
BELIEVE IN WHAT THE POLITICIANS
SAY.
OR SOME SENSE REPRESENTS
EVERYONE AND WE KNOW IT DOES
NOT.
>> SO YOU HAVE OPTIMISM.
>> I HAVE SO MUCH OPTIMISM.
ON THE LAST DAY OF HIS LIFE I
WOULD LIKE TO SAY THIS, MY
FATHER WAS ASKED BY A HOSPITAL
CHAPLAIN WHOM HE DID NOT HAVE A
LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP WITH, SO
YOU COME FROM THE HOLY CITY OF
JERUSALEM, AND DO YOU HAVE HOPE
THAT ARAB PEOPLE AND JEWISH
PEOPLE COULD EVER LIVE TOGETHER
IN ?EAS AND HE SAID OF COURSE I
DO!
I'VE NEVER YET IN MY LIFE, THIS
IS MY DYING FATHER SAYING THIS,
I'VE NEVER YET MET ANYONE WHO
WOKE UP AND SAID OF ANY
BACKGROUND WHO WOKE UP AND SAID,
I HOPE THERE WILL BE FIGHTING
AROUND MY HOUSE TODAY.
THAT IS NOT AN IMPULSE, A HUMAN
BEING HOLDS.
EVEN THOUGH YESTERDAY WILSON DID
SAY THERE WOULD ALWAYS BE
VIOLENCE AMONG HUMAN BEINGS
BECAUSE IT IS IN OUR DNA
SOMEHOW.
THAT TOUCHED THIS MAN SO MUCH,
AFTER MY FATHER'S DEATH HE CAME
AND FOUND ME AND SAID, YOUR
FATHER GAVE ME A NEW DOSE OF
HOPE.
HE SAID THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE
SO CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER, THAT IT
IS ALMOST AS IF THEIR LIVES,
THEIR LONGINGS ECHO ONE
ANOTHER'S SO PROFOUNDLY, THAT IF
POLITICIAN WAS GET OUT OF THE
WAY, IF BIG MONEY FROM OTHER
COUNTRIES WOULD GET OUT OF THE
WAY, IF MILITARY WEAPONS WOULD
GET OUT OF THE WAY, PEOPLE COULD
WORK IT OUT.
HE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT IF ARAB
PEOPLE AND JEWISH PEOPLE HAD
BEEN LEFT ON THEIR OWN,
TOGETHER, THEY WOULD HAVE WORKED
IT OUT.
BUT THERE WAS TOO MANY INTRUSIVE
OPINIONS.
FROM OUTSIDE.
>> THOSE ARE BIG THINGS TO GET
OUT OF THE WAY.
>> YEAH, REALLY BIG.
>> POLITICIAN AND WEAPONS.
>> BUT HE HAD FULL FAITH IN
HUMAN BEINGS.
AND HE WAS --
>> HE LOST HIS HOME.
>> HE LOST HIS HOME, FAMILY LOST
ALL THEIR MONEY.
THEY WEREN'T WEALTHY, BUT THEY
DID HAVE MONEY IN A BANK IN
1948, AND THEY LOST IT.
THEY LOST THEIR -- REALLY THEY
LOST WHAT MANY OF THE
PALESTINIANS LOST, WHICH WAS
THAT SENSE OF DAILY DIGNITY.
THAT I AM A PERSON TO BE
RESPECTED LIKE ANY OTHER PERSON.
SOMEONE FINDS IT HARD TO IMAGINE
WHY IT WOULD BE ATTACHED TO MY
HOUSE OR MY TREE, ANYONE WHO'S
BEEN CAST OUT OR THROWN INTO
EXILE UNDERSTANDS THAT DEEPLY NO
MATTER WHERE USUAL FROM.
>> DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR POEMS TO
BE POLITICAL?
>> I DO.
YES.
AND I LOVED THAT THE WRITER
GRACE PAYLY WHO USED TO SAY
POLITICS IS SIMPLY THE WAY WE
TREAT ONE ANOTHER.
EITHER PERSON-TO-PERSON,
COUNTRY-TO-COUNTRY, THAT'S
POLITICS.
SO, YES, I THINK IN A VERY SORT
OF DOWN-TO-EARTH WAY, POEMS ARE
POLITICAL BECAUSE THEY'RE CARING
ABOUT DETAILS.
SOMETHING LIKE WAR, BOOM, ERASES
DETAIL.
OR KIND OF TAKES SO MUCH AWAY
THAT WE CAN BARELY GRASP HOW
MUCH HAS BEEN LOST.
A BOMB FALLS, WHAT WAS THERE,
ALL THESE LIVES AFFECTED.
WE READ ABOUT IT EVERY DAY IN
THE PAPER, WHEREAS POETRY PAUSES
AND RESPECTS WHAT'S THERE.
DOES EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE.
>> I WANT TO ASK YOU A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT HOW YOU WRITE POETRY.
FIRST OF ALL, DO YOU WRITE
LONGHAND STILL?
>> I DO.
AND I OFTEN WRITE WITH PENCIL
BECAUSE I LOVE THAT SOFT FEELING
AND SOUND OF A PEN SIMILAR.
I WRITE EVERY DAY.
I'M ALWAYS TAKING NOTES, BUT
I'LL GO TO A NEW PAGE AND START
WORKING ON A POEM, AND JUST
LINES START FINDING YOU.
THE MORE YOU DO REGULAR WRITING,
THE MORE WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU.
SO I URGE PEOPLE NOT TO MAKE
THEIR WRITING TIME TOO PRECIOUS,
DON'T SAY IN YOUR MIND, OH,
THREE WEEKS FROM NOW I'M GOING
TO SPEND A WHOLE DAY WORKING ON
POEMS.
BECAUSE THEN THERE WILL BE TOO
MUCH EMPHASIS PLACED ON IT.
DO IT EVERY DAY A LITTLE BIT.
SEVEN MINUTES, 10 MINUTES.
YOU, SNEAK IT IN.
I FIND BY REGULAR WRITING, SO
MUCH IS ALWAYS SORT OF WAITING.
LIKE WATER TO FLOW THROUGH THE
CREEKBED INTO THE PAGE.
I DO, I WRITE EVERY DAY, AND ONE
OF MY FRIENDS IN OREGON HAS
SAID, TO BE A WRITING PERSON YOU
NEED REALLY JUST THREE
THINGS -- YOU NEED A SENSE OF
YOUR OWN MATERIAL, A REGULAR
WRITING PRACTICE, AND SOME WAY
TO SHARE YOUR WORK.
AND THAT COULD BE WITH ONE
FRIEND, WHO ALSO LOVES TO WRITE,
AND IT COULD BE OVER THE
INTERNET, THROUGH THE REAL
MAILBOX, HAND IT TO YOUR FRIEND
IN CLASS TODAY.
SO I'M ALWAYS URGING STUDENTS TO
BELIEVE THAT BELONGS TO THEM.
BECAUSE WHATEVER THEY DO IN
THEIR LIVES, IF THEY'RE A PERSON
WHO FEELS COMFORTABLE WITH
WORDS, IT'S GOING TO SERVE THEM.
IT'S GOING TO HELP THEM HAVE AN
EASIER TIME, A BETTER LIFE.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A SOAPBOX,
BUT I'VE BEEN ON IT FOR A LONG
TIME, AND I REALLY BELIEVE IN
IT.
AND I'VE HAD SO MANY ADULTS COME
UP TO ME, ALL KINDS OF PLACES,
AND SAY, YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT REALLY MATTERED.
KEEPING A NOTEBOOK BECAME THE
MOST IMPORTANT THING IN MY LIFE.
WHEN EVERYTHING FELL APART,
LANGUAGE SAVED ME.
THIS, THAT.
AND SO I'VE HAD PLENTY OF
TESTIMONIALS THAT ALLOW ME TO
KNOW IT'S NOT JUST A PIPE DREAM
OF POETS.
ONE THING I LOVE ABOUT IDAHO,
YOU HAVE SPACE HERE.
I LIVE IN TEXAS WHERE WE ALSO
HAVE SPACE, SOME OF OUR CITIES
ARE OVERCROWDED, BUT TO LIVE IN
A PLACE THAT HAS SPACE, I THINK
GIVES YOU A REALLY PRECIOUS TIME
TO HAVE A LITTLE SOLITUDE.
TO BE ALONE WITH LANGUAGE, ALONE
WITH WORDS.
TO TAKE A WALK AND LOOK UP AT
THE MOUNTAINS, OR THE STRETCH OF
THE LAND AND FEEL THINGS
RESONATING IN YOUR EAR.
SO I WOULD THINK OF IT AS THE
MARGIN ON THE PAGE OF THE DAY.
DO YOU OUTSIDE AND JUST TAKE A
WALK AND THE PLACE HOLDS YOU.
I LOVE THAT ABOUT IDAHO FROM THE
BEGINNING.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
VISITING US AGAIN.
WE HOPE YOU'LL COME BACK.
>> THANK YOU.
I THINK THAT THE SUN VALLEY
WRITERS' CONFERENCE IS CERTAINLY
ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING
CONFERENCES I'VE SEEN IN ALL OF
MY TRAVELS, AND IT'S AN HONOR TO
HAVE BEEN HERE FOUR TIMES NOW.
>> YOU'VE BEEN LISTENING TO
NAOMI SHIHAB NYE, A POET,
ESSAYIST AND ESSAYIST.
I SPOKE WITH HER AT THE SUN
VALLEY WRITERS' CONFERENCE.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE ORGANIZERS
OF THAT EVENT AND THANK YOU FOR
TUNING IN.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT NYE, WATCH THIS PROGRAM
AGAIN OR WATCH PAST
CONVERSATIONS, PLEASE CHECK OUT
OUR WEBSITE.
GO TO IDAHOPTV.ORG AND CLICK ON
"DIALOGUE."
FOR "DIALOGUE," I'M MARCIA
FRANKLIN.
Captioning Performed By LNS Captioning www.LNScaptioning.com
>>> PRESENTATION OF "DIALOGUE"
ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IS
MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE
GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LAURA
MOORE CUNNINGHAM FOUNDATION.
COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE
MOORE FAMILY'S LEGACY OF
BUILDING THE GREAT STATE OF
IDAHO.