Natasha Trethewey On Her New Duties as PLOTUS

Newly named Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey spoke with NPR's Morning Addition about her new position.

Here's a taste:

Natasha Trethewey is the newly-announced, 19th United States poet laureate. The position is described by the Library of Congress as "the nation's official lightning rod for the poetic impulse of Americans."

Trethewey tells Weekend Edition Sunday host Rachel Martin that it's a lot of responsibility.

"Just trying to be the biggest promoter of poetry; someone who's really got to do the work of bringing poetry to the widest audience possible," she says.

Poetry, she says, is one of those things people turn to when they need a way to "speak the unspeakable."

"That's because poetry not only can celebrate our joys with us, but it can also mourn with us our losses," she says.

Make the jump for more, including audio of two poems.