Carolyn Forche - College of Arts & Sciences

Georgetown University Faculty in Research

Dr. Carolyn Forche is a University Professor in the Department of English, and also the Director of the Lannan Center for Poetics and Social Practice at Georgetown. She is a renowned poet and translator, and has published numerous books of poetry. Her most recent book, published in March of 2019, is titled What You Have Heard Is True: A Memoir of Witness and Resistance. The book recounts her experience in El Salvador leading up to the Salvadoran Civil War. Carolyn is a long-time human rights activist, and is particularly interested in the effect of political trauma on the poet's use of language. She has received many awards for her literary work, and her articles and reviews have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other reputable publications. Table of Contents 0:00 - Intro 1:20 - Where did your interest in poetry begin? 2:30 - Did your urge to write continue into adolescence? 4:00 - What attracts you to the form of poetry? 7:00 - Can you elaborate on the process of writing poetry? 8:30 - Are you making conscious observations through your writing? 10:30 - How intentional are the layers of emotion and meaning in a poem? 12:00 - How do you see the compatibility between your teaching and creative life? 15:10 - How many times you do you usually rework your writing? 16:40 - How have you combined your passions for writing and social justice? 18:35 - What is some advice that you would offer to a younger self? Main Theme: Corporate Technology by Scott Holmes Background: Horizon Soundscapes by RF Soundtracks