At a time when our whole world seems to be in need of healing, this remarkable episode

of Words For The People features Kentucky Poet Laureate Crystal Wilkinson discussing the

restorative power of bringing our words into the light with Ada Limón and Silas House.

“I think healing is central to what I want out of writing,” U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón says. “If

it helps others, then more power to the work!” Crystal and Ada discuss how writing is

like finding a container that can uniquely hold a range of emotions we may need to experience

and lay down.

Many times when these stories are excavated and released into the world, they can be a

powerful mirror that echoes our common humanity and helps us understand each other in a

new way. That empathy, Crystal notes, is central to our own healing.

Ada also shares some of her award-winning poems, how Kentucky has been good for her

writing, and what her time as the 24th U.S. Poet Laureate might look like.

Next Crystal talks with nationally bestselling Kentucky author Silas House, who shares his own

experience with the healing capacity of words. “The only way I’ve ever gotten through anything

– survived any hardship – is through writing,” Silas says.

Silas talks about the importance of finding the trouble when writing and reads excerpts from his new book, “Lark Ascending.”

This episode also includes submissions from emerging Kentucky writers Carolyn Martin, John E. Campbell and Avery Guess.