I interned for Poets House in 2008, and my experience there was incredible. The staff is very welcoming, and Lee is no exception. During our conversation, we talked about ways to make poetry more accessible, more welcoming to a person who may never have liked poetry or may have fallen away from it in recent years. Their programming arches over all readers and writers, from experience poets (they offer master classes with incredible teachers every semester) to brand new readers (with their beautiful children's library and field trips). There's something for everyone in their beautiful space overlooking the Hudson River.
Lee is also a complete powerhouse, and runs the organization with acumen and passion. She's overseen the nonprofit for twenty-five years, and I deeply admire her tenacity and creativity. In addition to opening their new building a few years ago, she also published her first book, Day Mark in 2005.
I'm so glad she was willing to speak with me on behalf of Late Night Library, and that I had the opportunity to learn so much from her during this interview, and from Poets House during that internship at the very start of my career. I hope you'll give it a listen and visit the library if you're ever in New York!
