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HARVARD UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
Barker Center - 12 Quincy Street - Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
ELISA NEW
Powell M. Cabot Professor of American Literature
November 25, 2018
Dear Ms. Williams:
Tel:
Fax:
I am writing now to invite you to be a featured guest of Poetry in America
(poetryinamerica.org). Poetry in America's first season's guests included Bill
Clinton, Joe Biden, Cynthia Nixon, Shaquille O'Neal, Yo Yo Ma, Samantha
Power, Herbie Hancock, John McCain, Nas, Angela Duckworth, Bono, Regina
Spektor, Frank Gehry, Stuart Weitzman, E.O. Wilson and many others. Seasons
Two and Three will feature just as distinguished a line up. The series airs on
public television stations everywhere, streams via Amazon Prime and other
streaming services, and it is now also airing on a variety of domestic and
international airlines.
The poem we'd read and interpret together is by Pulitzer Prize winner, Sharon
Olds, and it's called "The Language of the Brag." It's a gutsy poem that
compares feats of (male) athletic prowess-- and feats of poetic prowess-- to
childbirth. You are the ideal reader for this poem. We would use what we
filmed together in upcoming season of Poetry in America. I'll also use the
content in an online course for medical professionals I am creating in
partnership with Harvard Medical School.
I thank you for considering this request. I would be very honored to work
with you.
Sincerely,
Elisa New
Director and Host of Poetry in America
Powell M. Cabot Professor, Harvard
HOUSE OVERSIGHT 029603